Chokio, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Chokio, Stevens County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Chokio?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 66 days in the Stevens forecast zone and Stevens County — the most common reported hazard around Chokio, mostly in December and January. Next come extreme cold & wind chill (42 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (42 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 66 | Nov 2025 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 42 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 42 | Jun 2026 | Jul 25, 2023 · $5.0 million damage |
| Blizzards | 36 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 17 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 8 | Jul 2016 | — |
| Flooding | 6 | Apr 2023 | Apr 11, 2023 · $146,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 4 | Jul 2025 | Apr 7, 2001 · $300,000 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 Stevens forecast zone and Stevens County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Chokio get?
A normal year brings about 43 inches of snow to Chokio, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Artichoke Lake 1 E weather station 13.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (9.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.9 | 5.5 | 8.9 | 9.1 | 8.2 | 6.4 | 4.0 | 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 Chokio?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABR (Aberdeen, SD), about 109 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 Chokio | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 109 mi west | 10,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 137 mi east-southeast | 15,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 140 mi south-southwest | 16,200 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 Chokio
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 68 tornadoes within 25 miles of Chokio, 7 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F3 on May 17, 1996, which passed about 6 miles west-southwest of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on August 21, 2025, which touched down about 22 miles north of town.
Hail: 232 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 35 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 6.00-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 Chokio'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.
Chokio radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Chokio, MN?
KABR (Aberdeen, SD), about 109 miles west. KMPX (Minneapolis, MN) is 137 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Chokio?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Chokio the lowest scan from KABR is about 10,900 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Chokio 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 Chokio, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Morris, MN radar 13 mi
- Wheaton, MN radar 22 mi
- Ortonville, MN radar 23 mi
- Appleton, MN radar 27 mi
- Elbow Lake, MN radar 30 mi
- Starbuck, MN radar 31 mi
- Benson, MN radar 33 mi
- Glenwood, MN radar 39 mi
- Madison, MN radar 39 mi
- Alexandria, MN radar 44 mi