Deer River, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Deer River, Itasca County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Deer River?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 107 days in the South Itasca forecast zone and Itasca County — the most common reported hazard around Deer River, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (75 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (43 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 107 | Jun 2026 | Jul 2, 2012 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 75 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 43 | Jan 2026 | Jan 3, 2011 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 11 | Jun 2025 | Aug 16, 2022 · $10,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Dec 2016 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 4 | Jun 2007 | Jun 8, 2007 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 2 | Jul 2017 | — |
| Excessive heat | 1 | Jul 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 South Itasca forecast zone and Itasca County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Deer River get?
A normal year brings about 32 inches of snow to Deer River, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Winnibigoshish Dam weather station 14 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (8.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.6 | 5.6 | 7.7 | 8.4 | 5.3 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 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 Deer River?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 82 miles east-southeast. 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 Deer River | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDLH Duluth, MN | 82 mi east-southeast | 7,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMVX Grand Forks, ND | 166 mi west | 21,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 172 mi south | 22,800 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 Deer River
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 14 tornadoes within 25 miles of Deer River, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and July. The strongest was an F2 on July 5, 1991, which touched down about 23 miles southwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 30, 2022, which touched down about 9 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 147 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 12 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on June 20, 2025.
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 Deer River'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.
Deer River radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Deer River, MN?
KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 82 miles east-southeast. KMVX (Grand Forks, ND) is 166 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Deer River?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Deer River the lowest scan from KDLH is about 7,200 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Deer River 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 Deer River, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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