Buffalo Lake, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Buffalo Lake, Renville County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Buffalo Lake?
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 Buffalo Lake, 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 Buffalo Lake get?
A normal year brings about 50 inches of snow to Buffalo Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Brownton Wwtp weather station 13.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (12.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 | 3.6 | 12.2 | 6.9 | 11.8 | 7.6 | 7.0 | 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 Buffalo Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 52 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 Buffalo Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 52 mi east | 3,800 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 131 mi southwest | 14,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 181 mi east-southeast | 24,700 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 Buffalo Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 76 tornadoes within 25 miles of Buffalo Lake, 8 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on June 19, 1951, which passed about 16 miles northeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on August 14, 2020, which touched down about 14 miles east of town.
Hail: 271 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 44 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-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 Buffalo 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.
Buffalo Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Buffalo Lake, MN?
KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 52 miles east. KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD) is 131 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Buffalo Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Buffalo Lake the lowest scan from KMPX is about 3,800 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Buffalo 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 Buffalo Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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