Grand Marais, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Grand Marais, Cook County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Grand Marais?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 114 days in the Southern Cook/North Shore forecast zone and Cook County — the most common reported hazard around Grand Marais, mostly in December and January. Next come extreme cold & wind chill (56 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (20 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 114 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 56 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 20 | Aug 2025 | Jun 19, 2016 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 14 | Aug 2025 | Jun 6, 2008 · $900,000 damage |
| High winds | 11 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 11 | Mar 2026 | Dec 23, 2020 · $5,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 9 | Nov 2022 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Sep 2025 | Aug 6, 1996 · 1 death |
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 Southern Cook/North Shore forecast zone and Cook County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Grand Marais get?
A normal year brings about 51 inches of snow to Grand Marais, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Grand Marais weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually January (15.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 3.8 | 13.4 | 15.6 | 8.7 | 6.0 | 3.3 | 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 Grand Marais?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 108 miles southwest. 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 Grand Marais | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDLH Duluth, MN | 108 mi southwest | 10,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMQT Marquette, MI | 156 mi east-southeast | 19,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KGRB Green Bay, WI | 249 mi south-southeast | 42,600 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 Grand Marais
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 4 tornadoes within 25 miles of Grand Marais, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and September. The strongest was an EF2 on October 10, 2021, which passed about 20 miles north of town.
Hail: 11 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on October 10, 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 Grand Marais'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.
Grand Marais radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Grand Marais, MN?
KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 108 miles southwest. KMQT (Marquette, MI) is 156 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Grand Marais?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Grand Marais the lowest scan from KDLH is about 10,800 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Grand Marais 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 Grand Marais, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Silver Bay, MN radar 54 mi