Fairmont, MN Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for FairmontWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Fairmont?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 76 days in the Martin forecast zone and Martin County — the most common reported hazard around Fairmont, mostly in January and February. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (57 days) and blizzards (30 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Heavy snow & winter storms76Nov 2025—
Damaging thunderstorm winds57Jun 2026May 15, 1998 · $1.0 million damage
Blizzards30Mar 2026—
Extreme cold & wind chill29Jan 2026—
High winds17Mar 2026Jun 22, 2015 · $100,000 damage
Flash flooding13Aug 2025Jul 7, 2010 · $5,000 damage
Excessive heat11Aug 2023—
Flooding6Sep 2010Sep 15, 2004 · $4.3 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 Martin forecast zone and Martin County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Fairmont?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 94 miles north-northeast. 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over FairmontView
KMPX
Minneapolis, MN		94 mi north-northeast8,800 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KFSD
Sioux Falls, SD		113 mi west11,700 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KDMX
Des Moines, IA		138 mi south-southeast15,800 ftLimited — 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 Fairmont

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 64 tornadoes within 25 miles of Fairmont, 11 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F3 on August 1, 2006, which touched down about 19 miles north-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 21, 2024, which touched down near town.

Hail: 237 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 25 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.50-inch hail on June 29, 1993.

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 Fairmont'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.

Fairmont radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Fairmont, MN?

KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 94 miles north-northeast. KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD) is 113 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Fairmont?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Fairmont the lowest scan from KMPX is about 8,800 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.

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

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