Browns Valley, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Browns Valley, Traverse County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Browns Valley?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 59 days in the Traverse forecast zone and Traverse County — the most common reported hazard around Browns Valley, mostly in December and March. Next come blizzards (54 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (45 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 59 | Apr 2025 | — |
| Blizzards | 54 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 45 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 38 | Jul 2024 | — |
| High winds | 23 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 21 | Apr 2023 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Dec 2016 | — |
| Excessive heat | 4 | Aug 2023 | — |
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 Traverse forecast zone and Traverse County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Browns Valley get?
A normal year brings about 44 inches of snow to Browns Valley, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Browns Valley weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually December (9.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.9 | 5.4 | 9.5 | 8.8 | 9.0 | 5.7 | 4.9 | 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 Browns Valley?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABR (Aberdeen, SD), about 77 miles west. 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 Browns Valley | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 77 mi west | 6,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMVX Grand Forks, ND | 136 mi north | 15,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 139 mi south | 16,000 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 Browns Valley
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 59 tornadoes within 25 miles of Browns Valley, 6 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and October. The strongest was an F3 on May 17, 1996, which passed about 24 miles east-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on August 21, 2025, which touched down about 24 miles north of town.
Hail: 187 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 26 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on July 31, 2024.
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 Browns Valley'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.
Browns Valley radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Browns Valley, MN?
KABR (Aberdeen, SD), about 77 miles west. KMVX (Grand Forks, ND) is 136 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Browns Valley?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Browns Valley the lowest scan from KABR is about 6,500 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Browns Valley 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 Browns Valley, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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