Fish Lake, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Fish Lake, Jackson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Fish Lake?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 55 days in the Jackson forecast zone and Jackson County — the most common reported hazard around Fish Lake, mostly in January and March. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (47 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (39 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 55 | Nov 2025 | Apr 9, 2013 · $15 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 47 | Jun 2026 | Aug 3, 2004 · $100,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 39 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Blizzards | 37 | Mar 2026 | Mar 24, 1996 · 1 death · $10,000 damage |
| High winds | 34 | Mar 2026 | Jan 22, 2005 · $100,000 damage |
| Flooding | 32 | Jul 2024 | Jun 1, 2019 · $13 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 21 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 14 | Aug 2018 | — |
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 Jackson forecast zone and Jackson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Fish Lake get?
A normal year brings about 44 inches of snow to Fish Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Windom weather station 4.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (9.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.9 | 5.2 | 8.4 | 8.4 | 9.0 | 7.3 | 4.2 | 0.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Fish Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 86 miles west. 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 Fish Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 86 mi west | 7,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 101 mi northeast | 9,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 160 mi south-southeast | 20,200 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 Fish Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 70 tornadoes within 25 miles of Fish Lake, 12 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on March 29, 1998, which passed about 15 miles north-northwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on August 29, 2024, which touched down about 25 miles south of town.
Hail: 235 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 14 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on September 10, 1986.
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 Fish Lake'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.
Fish Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Fish Lake, MN?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 86 miles west. KMPX (Minneapolis, MN) is 101 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Fish Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Fish Lake the lowest scan from KFSD is about 7,600 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Fish Lake 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 Fish Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Windom, MN radar 4 mi
- Mountain Lake, MN radar 9 mi
- Lakefield, MN radar 13 mi
- Jackson, MN radar 15 mi
- Sherburn, MN radar 20 mi
- St. James, MN radar 23 mi
- Springfield, MN radar 28 mi
- Fulda, MN radar 28 mi
- Truman, MN radar 30 mi
- Worthington, MN radar 31 mi