Bigfork, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Bigfork, Itasca County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Bigfork?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 107 days in the North Itasca forecast zone and Itasca County — the most common reported hazard around Bigfork, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (70 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (49 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 107 | Jun 2026 | Jul 2, 2012 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 70 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 49 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 11 | Jun 2025 | Aug 16, 2022 · $10,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Dec 2016 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 4 | Jun 2007 | Jun 8, 2007 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 2 | Jul 2017 | — |
| High winds | 1 | Sep 1997 | — |
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 North Itasca forecast zone and Itasca County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Bigfork get?
A normal year brings about 64 inches of snow to Bigfork, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Marcell 5Ne weather station 8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (14.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 | 12.9 | 12.8 | 14.1 | 10.0 | 7.7 | 5.2 | 0.2 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Bigfork?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 92 miles southeast. 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 Bigfork | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDLH Duluth, MN | 92 mi southeast | 8,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMVX Grand Forks, ND | 172 mi west | 22,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 200 mi south | 29,300 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 Bigfork
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 3 tornadoes within 25 miles of Bigfork. Most came in August and June. The strongest was an F1 on June 8, 1993, which touched down about 15 miles southwest of town. The most recent was an F0 on July 27, 1993, which touched down about 8 miles northeast of town.
Hail: 49 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 5 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on July 19, 2023.
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 Bigfork'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.
Bigfork radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Bigfork, MN?
KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 92 miles southeast. KMVX (Grand Forks, ND) is 172 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Bigfork?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Bigfork the lowest scan from KDLH is about 8,500 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Bigfork 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 Bigfork, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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