Bingham Lake, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Bingham Lake, Cottonwood County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Bingham Lake?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 54 days in the Cottonwood forecast zone and Cottonwood County — the most common reported hazard around Bingham Lake, mostly in January and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (51 days) and blizzards (40 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 54 | Nov 2025 | Apr 9, 2013 · $10 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 51 | Jun 2026 | Jun 27, 2003 · $1.0 million damage |
| Blizzards | 40 | Mar 2026 | Apr 11, 2019 · $380,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 39 | Feb 2025 | — |
| High winds | 36 | Mar 2026 | Jan 22, 2005 · $100,000 damage |
| Flooding | 36 | Jul 2024 | Jun 21, 2024 · $21 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 19 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 11 | Jul 2022 | Sep 22, 2010 · $50,000 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 Cottonwood forecast zone and Cottonwood County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Bingham Lake get?
A normal year brings about 44 inches of snow to Bingham Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Windom weather station 4.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (9.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.9 | 5.2 | 8.4 | 8.4 | 9.0 | 7.3 | 4.2 | 0.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Bingham Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 87 miles west-southwest. 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 Bingham Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 87 mi west-southwest | 7,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 98 mi northeast | 9,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 165 mi south-southeast | 21,200 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 Bingham Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 72 tornadoes within 25 miles of Bingham Lake, 11 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and August. The strongest was an F4 on March 29, 1998, which passed about 11 miles north-northwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on August 5, 2024, which touched down about 18 miles east-northeast of town.
Hail: 231 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 18 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on July 13, 1997.
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 Bingham 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.
Bingham Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Bingham Lake, MN?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 87 miles west-southwest. KMPX (Minneapolis, MN) is 98 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Bingham Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Bingham Lake the lowest scan from KFSD is about 7,800 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Bingham 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 Bingham Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Windom, MN radar 4 mi
- Mountain Lake, MN radar 6 mi
- Lakefield, MN radar 17 mi
- Jackson, MN radar 20 mi
- St. James, MN radar 21 mi
- Springfield, MN radar 23 mi
- Sherburn, MN radar 24 mi
- Fulda, MN radar 28 mi
- Truman, MN radar 31 mi
- Sleepy Eye, MN radar 31 mi