Big Lake, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Big Lake, Carlton County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Big Lake?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 129 days in the Carlton/South St. Louis forecast zone and Carlton County — the most common reported hazard around Big Lake, mostly in March and December. Next come extreme cold & wind chill (58 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (47 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 129 | Apr 2026 | Mar 16, 2023 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 58 | Jan 2026 | Dec 16, 2017 · 1 death |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 47 | Jun 2026 | Jun 10, 2026 · $10,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 13 | Mar 2026 | Feb 29, 2012 · $1.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 12 | Dec 2019 | Oct 9, 2018 · $18 million damage |
| High winds | 8 | Apr 2023 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 8 | Dec 2022 | Apr 22, 2001 · $4.2 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 8 | Jun 2024 | Jun 20, 2012 · $20 million damage |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1996–2026 (the latest year is partial). A "day" is a date with at least one report in the Carlton/South St. Louis forecast zone and Carlton County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Big Lake get?
A normal year brings about 71 inches of snow to Big Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Cloquet weather station 4.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (15.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 | 9.6 | 15.9 | 13.5 | 13.5 | 10.3 | 6.4 | 0.3 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Big Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 22 miles east-northeast. Radar beams climb as they travel, so the height of the lowest scan over town decides how low in a storm the radar can see.
| Radar | Distance | Lowest beam over Big Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDLH Duluth, MN | 22 mi east-northeast | 1,200 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 136 mi south-southwest | 15,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 211 mi south-southeast | 31,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
Beam height is the center of the 0.5° scan above the radar, with standard refraction. Mountains near a radar can block it further.
Tornado & hail history near Big Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 12 tornadoes within 25 miles of Big Lake, 3 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and August. The strongest was an F4 on June 11, 1966, which passed about 13 miles northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on June 12, 2024, which passed about 14 miles west of town.
Hail: 183 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 13 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on September 8, 1958.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center — tornadoes 1950–2025, hail 1955–2025. Distances are to each tornado's track; ratings before February 2007 use the original Fujita scale.
On TALON you get Big Lake's live radar loop, rain/snow/ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks with arrival times and NWS warnings free; close-up radar and rotation detection are part of TALON Pro.
Big Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Big Lake, MN?
KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 22 miles east-northeast. KMPX (Minneapolis, MN) is 136 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Big Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Big Lake the lowest scan from KDLH is about 1,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Big Lake free?
Yes — the US radar loop, rain/snow/ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and NWS warnings are free in any browser. Close-up radar, rotation detection and longer forecasts are part of TALON Pro.
Should I rely on radar for my safety?
No app replaces official warnings. When the National Weather Service issues a warning for Big Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Cloquet, MN radar 6 mi
- Moose Lake, MN radar 19 mi
- Proctor, MN radar 19 mi
- Hermantown, MN radar 19 mi
- Duluth, MN radar 24 mi
- Rice Lake, MN radar 27 mi
- Sandstone, MN radar 41 mi
- Hinckley, MN radar 50 mi
- Two Harbors, MN radar 50 mi
- Hibbing, MN radar 50 mi