Bird Island, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Bird Island, Renville County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Bird Island?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 81 days in the Renville forecast zone and Renville County — the most common reported hazard around Bird Island, mostly in March and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (67 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (38 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 81 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 67 | Aug 2025 | Jun 24, 2003 · $10 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 38 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 37 | Feb 2026 | — |
| High winds | 14 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 13 | Apr 2023 | Jul 3, 2018 · 1 death · $375,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 13 | Aug 2023 | — |
| Flash flooding | 11 | Jun 2025 | Aug 17, 2017 · $325,000 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 Renville forecast zone and Renville County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Bird Island get?
A normal year brings about 38 inches of snow to Bird Island, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Olivia 3E weather station 1.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (9.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 3.8 | 9.4 | 6.6 | 8.7 | 6.7 | 2.4 | 0.0 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Bird Island?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 65 miles east. 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 Bird Island | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 65 mi east | 5,200 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 122 mi southwest | 13,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 178 mi west-northwest | 24,100 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 Bird Island
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 72 tornadoes within 25 miles of Bird Island, 14 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an EF3 on July 11, 2008, which passed about 23 miles north of town. The most recent was an EF0 on June 2, 2024, which touched down about 22 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 229 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 35 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on June 25, 2010.
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 Bird Island'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.
Bird Island radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Bird Island, MN?
KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 65 miles east. KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD) is 122 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Bird Island?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Bird Island the lowest scan from KMPX is about 5,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Bird Island 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 Bird Island, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Olivia, MN radar 5 mi
- Renville, MN radar 15 mi
- Redwood Falls, MN radar 18 mi
- Fairfax, MN radar 18 mi
- Willmar, MN radar 26 mi
- Atwater, MN radar 26 mi
- Hutchinson, MN radar 27 mi
- Clara City, MN radar 27 mi
- Winthrop, MN radar 30 mi
- Litchfield, MN radar 31 mi