Elk River, MN Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Elk River, Sherburne County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for Elk River What TALON shows

What weather hits Elk River?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 80 days in the Sherburne forecast zone and Sherburne County — the most common reported hazard around Elk River, mostly in March and February. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (67 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (26 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Heavy snow & winter storms	80	Mar 2026	—
Damaging thunderstorm winds	67	Jul 2025	May 15, 1998 · $3.0 million damage
Extreme cold & wind chill	26	Jan 2026	—
Excessive heat	12	Aug 2023	—
High winds	8	Dec 2021	—
Flash flooding	4	Sep 2005	Apr 22, 2001 · $2.0 million damage
Blizzards	2	Dec 2020	—
Flooding	2	Apr 2001	—

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 Sherburne forecast zone and Sherburne County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

How much snow does Elk River get?

A normal year brings about 36 inches of snow to Elk River, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Elk Rvr weather station 2.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (8.2 in).

Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May
0.2	5.3	6.0	8.2	7.3	6.3	2.4	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 Elk River?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 33 miles south. 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 Elk River	View
KMPX Minneapolis, MN	33 mi south	2,100 ft	Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KDLH Duluth, MN	123 mi north-northeast	13,200 ft	Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KARX La Crosse, WI	157 mi southeast	19,500 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 Elk River

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 79 tornadoes within 25 miles of Elk River, 18 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F4 on May 6, 1965, which passed about 24 miles southeast of town and caused 6 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on August 29, 2024, which passed about 13 miles east-southeast of town.

Hail: 578 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 81 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 Elk 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.

Elk River radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Elk River, MN?

KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 33 miles south. KDLH (Duluth, MN) is 123 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Elk River?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Elk River the lowest scan from KMPX is about 2,100 ft up.

Is TALON's radar for Elk 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 Elk River, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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