Crystal, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Crystal, Hennepin County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Crystal?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 125 days in the Hennepin forecast zone and Hennepin County — the most common reported hazard around Crystal, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (99 days) and flash flooding (37 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 125 | Jun 2026 | Sep 21, 2005 · 1 death · $130 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 99 | Mar 2026 | Dec 10, 2010 · $18 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 37 | Jun 2025 | Jun 1, 2014 · $750,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 19 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 17 | Aug 2023 | Jul 3, 2012 · 3 deaths |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 17 | Aug 2016 | Jun 21, 2013 · $750,000 damage |
| High winds | 14 | Mar 2026 | Jun 11, 2018 · $25,000 damage |
| Flooding | 9 | Jun 2025 | Jun 18, 2014 · $4.0 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 Hennepin forecast zone and Hennepin County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Crystal get?
A normal year brings about 54 inches of snow to Crystal, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the New Hope weather station 2.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (12.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 | 6.9 | 12.3 | 10.1 | 10.1 | 9.0 | 5.1 | 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 Crystal?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 16 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 Crystal | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 16 mi southwest | 900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 136 mi southeast | 15,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDLH Duluth, MN | 136 mi north-northeast | 15,500 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 Crystal
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 105 tornadoes within 25 miles of Crystal, 22 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and May. The strongest was an F4 on May 6, 1965, which passed about 2 miles southeast of town and caused 6 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on June 28, 2025, which passed about 24 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 1,021 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 125 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on August 5, 2019.
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 Crystal'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.
Crystal radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Crystal, MN?
KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 16 miles southwest. KARX (La Crosse, WI) is 136 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Crystal?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Crystal the lowest scan from KMPX is about 900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Crystal 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 Crystal, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.