Fort Ripley, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Fort Ripley, Crow Wing County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Fort Ripley?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 101 days in the Crow Wing forecast zone and Crow Wing County — the most common reported hazard around Fort Ripley, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (80 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (30 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 101 | Jun 2026 | Sep 25, 1998 · $1.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 80 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 30 | Jan 2026 | Mar 7, 2008 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 11 | Jul 2020 | Jun 19, 2012 · $634,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 8 | Aug 2019 | Jul 13, 1997 · $1.5 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Dec 2016 | — |
| Flash flooding | 6 | Jun 2022 | Jul 7, 2002 · $250,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 2 | 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 Crow Wing forecast zone and Crow Wing County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Fort Ripley get?
A normal year brings about 53 inches of snow to Fort Ripley, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Little Falls 2Nne weather station 11.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (11.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.9 | 8.2 | 11.9 | 9.5 | 9.7 | 8.5 | 4.1 | 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 Fort Ripley?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 99 miles south-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 Fort Ripley | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 99 mi south-southeast | 9,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDLH Duluth, MN | 112 mi east-northeast | 11,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMVX Grand Forks, ND | 169 mi northwest | 22,000 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 Fort Ripley
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 48 tornadoes within 25 miles of Fort Ripley, 10 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F3 on September 18, 1997, which passed about 16 miles east-southeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on June 16, 2025, which passed about 19 miles north of town.
Hail: 239 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 30 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on August 3, 2024.
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 Fort Ripley'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.
Fort Ripley radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Fort Ripley, MN?
KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 99 miles south-southeast. KDLH (Duluth, MN) is 112 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Fort Ripley?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Fort Ripley the lowest scan from KMPX is about 9,500 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Fort Ripley 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 Fort Ripley, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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