Garden City, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Garden City, Blue Earth County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Garden City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 77 days in the Blue Earth forecast zone and Blue Earth County — the most common reported hazard around Garden City, mostly in January and March. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (73 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (30 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 77 | Nov 2025 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 73 | Aug 2025 | Sep 17, 2021 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 30 | Jan 2026 | Jan 5, 2005 · 2 deaths |
| Blizzards | 28 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 21 | Jul 2025 | Jul 18, 2025 · $835,000 damage |
| High winds | 16 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 15 | Mar 2019 | Jun 18, 2014 · $2.3 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 12 | Aug 2023 | — |
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 Blue Earth forecast zone and Blue Earth County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Garden City get?
A normal year brings about 39 inches of snow to Garden City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Mankato weather station 10.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (8.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 5.9 | 8.6 | 8.2 | 6.9 | 7.4 | 1.6 | 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 Garden City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 63 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.
| Radar | Distance | Lowest beam over Garden City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 63 mi north-northeast | 4,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 131 mi west-southwest | 14,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 149 mi east | 18,000 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 Garden City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 106 tornadoes within 25 miles of Garden City, 17 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F4 on March 29, 1998, which passed about 16 miles north-northwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 16, 2025, which touched down about 21 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 261 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 19 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on March 29, 1998.
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 Garden City'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.
Garden City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Garden City, MN?
KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 63 miles north-northeast. KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD) is 131 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Garden City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Garden City the lowest scan from KMPX is about 4,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Garden City 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 Garden City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Lake Crystal, MN radar 5 mi
- North Mankato, MN radar 11 mi
- Madelia, MN radar 12 mi
- Mankato, MN radar 13 mi
- Mapleton, MN radar 14 mi
- Nicollet, MN radar 16 mi
- Eagle Lake, MN radar 16 mi
- Winnebago, MN radar 20 mi
- Truman, MN radar 20 mi
- Madison Lake, MN radar 21 mi