Clinton, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Clinton, Big Stone County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Clinton?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 64 days in the Big Stone forecast zone and Big Stone County — the most common reported hazard around Clinton, mostly in March and February. Next come blizzards (55 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (46 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 64 | Apr 2025 | Jan 3, 1997 · 1 death |
| Blizzards | 55 | Dec 2025 | Dec 23, 1996 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 46 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 45 | Jun 2026 | — |
| High winds | 24 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 17 | Jul 2025 | Jun 2, 2024 · $332,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 7 | Jun 2025 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Dec 2016 | — |
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 Big Stone forecast zone and Big Stone County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Clinton get?
A normal year brings about 44 inches of snow to Clinton, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Ortonville 1N weather station 10.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (12.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.6 | 2.7 | 12.7 | 6.1 | 8.0 | 5.8 | 7.7 | 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 Clinton?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABR (Aberdeen, SD), about 96 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 Clinton | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 96 mi west | 9,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 131 mi south | 14,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 147 mi east-southeast | 17,500 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 Clinton
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 60 tornadoes within 25 miles of Clinton, 6 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in October and June. The strongest was an F3 on May 17, 1996, which passed about 3 miles east-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on May 30, 2022, which passed about 21 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 243 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 44 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 Clinton'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.
Clinton radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Clinton, MN?
KABR (Aberdeen, SD), about 96 miles west. KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD) is 131 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Clinton?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Clinton the lowest scan from KABR is about 9,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Clinton 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 Clinton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Ortonville, MN radar 11 mi
- Wheaton, MN radar 24 mi
- Morris, MN radar 27 mi
- Appleton, MN radar 28 mi
- Madison, MN radar 34 mi
- Dawson, MN radar 42 mi
- Benson, MN radar 42 mi
- Elbow Lake, MN radar 42 mi
- Starbuck, MN radar 45 mi
- Montevideo, MN radar 50 mi