Cottonwood, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Cottonwood, Lyon County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Cottonwood?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 66 days in the Lyon forecast zone and Lyon County — the most common reported hazard around Cottonwood, mostly in December and March. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (54 days) and high winds (45 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 66 | Feb 2026 | Jan 29, 2001 · $10,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 54 | May 2026 | Jul 1, 2011 · $300,000 damage |
| High winds | 45 | May 2026 | Jan 21, 2005 · $300,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 40 | Feb 2025 | Jan 29, 1996 · $5,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 40 | Mar 2026 | Mar 1, 2007 · $50,000 damage |
| Flooding | 33 | Aug 2025 | Jun 1, 2019 · $28 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 22 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 16 | Aug 2025 | Jul 3, 2018 · $155,000 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 Lyon forecast zone and Lyon County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Cottonwood get?
A normal year brings about 44 inches of snow to Cottonwood, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Marshall weather station 11.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (10.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 | 5.3 | 10.1 | 6.6 | 8.1 | 7.6 | 4.9 | 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 Cottonwood?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 88 miles southwest. 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 Cottonwood | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 88 mi southwest | 7,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 105 mi east | 10,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 146 mi west-northwest | 17,400 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 Cottonwood
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 66 tornadoes within 25 miles of Cottonwood, 15 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F5 on June 13, 1968, which passed about 22 miles south of town and caused 9 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on June 2, 2024, which touched down about 18 miles east-northeast of town.
Hail: 265 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 34 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.50-inch hail on July 18, 1963.
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 Cottonwood'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.
Cottonwood radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Cottonwood, MN?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 88 miles southwest. KMPX (Minneapolis, MN) is 105 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Cottonwood?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Cottonwood the lowest scan from KFSD is about 7,900 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Cottonwood 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 Cottonwood, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Marshall, MN radar 13 mi
- Granite Falls, MN radar 15 mi
- Minneota, MN radar 16 mi
- Montevideo, MN radar 24 mi
- Tracy, MN radar 26 mi
- Renville, MN radar 26 mi
- Clara City, MN radar 28 mi
- Redwood Falls, MN radar 28 mi
- Dawson, MN radar 29 mi
- Canby, MN radar 30 mi