Bowlus, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Bowlus, Morrison County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Bowlus?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 80 days in the Morrison forecast zone and Morrison County — the most common reported hazard around Bowlus, mostly in March and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (67 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (33 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 80 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 67 | Jul 2025 | May 12, 2022 · $500,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 33 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 11 | Jun 2022 | Apr 7, 2001 · $2.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 9 | Apr 2023 | Jun 23, 2003 · $8.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 7 | Jul 2011 | — |
| High winds | 4 | Oct 2010 | — |
| Blizzards | 2 | Dec 2020 | — |
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 Morrison forecast zone and Morrison County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Bowlus get?
A normal year brings about 51 inches of snow to Bowlus, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Royalton 5W weather station 2.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (11.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | 9.0 | 7.4 | 11.2 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 5.0 | 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 Bowlus?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 79 miles south-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 Bowlus | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 79 mi south-southeast | 6,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDLH Duluth, MN | 126 mi northeast | 13,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMVX Grand Forks, ND | 182 mi northwest | 24,900 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 Bowlus
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 65 tornadoes within 25 miles of Bowlus, 13 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F3 on September 3, 1980, which passed about 21 miles southeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on May 15, 2025, which touched down about 25 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 286 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 38 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.50-inch hail on July 1, 2011.
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 Bowlus'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.
Bowlus radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Bowlus, MN?
KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 79 miles south-southeast. KDLH (Duluth, MN) is 126 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Bowlus?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Bowlus the lowest scan from KMPX is about 6,700 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Bowlus 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 Bowlus, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Royalton, MN radar 6 mi
- Rice, MN radar 9 mi
- Little Falls, MN radar 12 mi
- Avon, MN radar 15 mi
- Albany, MN radar 15 mi
- Sartell, MN radar 17 mi
- St. Joseph, MN radar 18 mi
- Pierz, MN radar 18 mi
- Sauk Rapids, MN radar 20 mi
- Melrose, MN radar 22 mi