Butterfield, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Butterfield, Watonwan County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Butterfield?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 62 days in the Watonwan forecast zone and Watonwan County — the most common reported hazard around Butterfield, mostly in January and March. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (36 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (32 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 62 | Nov 2025 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 36 | Jun 2026 | Jun 20, 2019 · $500,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 32 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 31 | Mar 2026 | — |
| High winds | 17 | Mar 2026 | Apr 7, 2001 · $8.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 11 | Aug 2023 | — |
| Flash flooding | 10 | Jun 2024 | — |
| Flooding | 8 | Mar 2019 | Sep 23, 2010 · $3.9 million 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 Watonwan forecast zone and Watonwan County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Butterfield get?
A normal year brings about 50 inches of snow to Butterfield, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the St James Wwtp weather station 9.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (11.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.6 | 4.9 | 11.2 | 10.8 | 11.0 | 8.2 | 3.5 | 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 Butterfield?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 86 miles northeast. 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 Butterfield | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 86 mi northeast | 7,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 100 mi west-southwest | 9,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 163 mi south-southeast | 20,800 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 Butterfield
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 63 tornadoes within 25 miles of Butterfield, 10 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and August. The strongest was an F4 on March 29, 1998, which passed about 12 miles north-northwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on August 5, 2024, which touched down about 7 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 221 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 17 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on September 10, 1986.
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 Butterfield'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.
Butterfield radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Butterfield, MN?
KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 86 miles northeast. KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD) is 100 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Butterfield?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Butterfield the lowest scan from KMPX is about 7,700 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Butterfield 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 Butterfield, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- St. James, MN radar 9 mi
- Windom, MN radar 17 mi
- Madelia, MN radar 20 mi
- Truman, MN radar 20 mi
- Sherburn, MN radar 21 mi
- Springfield, MN radar 21 mi
- Sleepy Eye, MN radar 24 mi
- Jackson, MN radar 25 mi
- Lakefield, MN radar 27 mi