Federal Dam, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Federal Dam, Cass County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Federal Dam?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 99 days in the North Cass forecast zone and Cass County — the most common reported hazard around Federal Dam, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (73 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (49 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 99 | Jun 2026 | Aug 14, 2000 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 73 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 49 | Jan 2026 | Feb 24, 2018 · 1 death |
| Ice storms & sleet | 7 | Jan 2013 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 4 | Apr 2025 | Jul 28, 2015 · $155,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 3 | Jun 2024 | — |
| High winds | 1 | Sep 1997 | — |
| 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 North Cass forecast zone and Cass County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Federal Dam get?
A normal year brings about 48 inches of snow to Federal Dam, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Leech Lake weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually December (11.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | 6.8 | 11.1 | 9.3 | 7.2 | 6.8 | 5.9 | 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 Federal Dam?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 98 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 Federal Dam | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDLH Duluth, MN | 98 mi east-southeast | 9,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMVX Grand Forks, ND | 147 mi west | 17,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 168 mi south | 21,900 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 Federal Dam
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 17 tornadoes within 25 miles of Federal Dam, 1 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 11 miles south-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on May 30, 2022, which touched down about 21 miles east-northeast of town.
Hail: 104 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 10 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on July 26, 2021.
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 Federal Dam'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.
Federal Dam radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Federal Dam, MN?
KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 98 miles east-southeast. KMVX (Grand Forks, ND) is 147 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Federal Dam?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Federal Dam the lowest scan from KDLH is about 9,400 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Federal Dam 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 Federal Dam, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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