Grand Rapids, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Grand Rapids, Itasca County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Grand Rapids?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 107 days in the South Itasca forecast zone and Itasca County — the most common reported hazard around Grand Rapids, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (75 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (43 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 107 | Jun 2026 | Jul 2, 2012 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 75 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 43 | Jan 2026 | Jan 3, 2011 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 11 | Jun 2025 | Aug 16, 2022 · $10,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Dec 2016 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 4 | Jun 2007 | Jun 8, 2007 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 2 | Jul 2017 | — |
| 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 South Itasca forecast zone and Itasca County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Grand Rapids get?
A normal year brings about 60 inches of snow to Grand Rapids, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Grand Rpds Forest Lab weather station 1.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (13.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 | 9.0 | 13.4 | 12.2 | 9.7 | 7.5 | 5.6 | 0.2 |
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 Rapids?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 68 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 Grand Rapids | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDLH Duluth, MN | 68 mi east-southeast | 5,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 165 mi south | 21,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMVX Grand Forks, ND | 179 mi west | 24,200 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 Grand Rapids
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 15 tornadoes within 25 miles of Grand Rapids, 3 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and August. The strongest was an F4 on August 6, 1969, which passed about 19 miles south of town and caused 12 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on May 30, 2022, which touched down about 6 miles west of town.
Hail: 135 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 9 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on June 20, 2025.
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 Rapids'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 Rapids radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Grand Rapids, MN?
KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 68 miles east-southeast. KMPX (Minneapolis, MN) is 165 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Grand Rapids?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Grand Rapids the lowest scan from KDLH is about 5,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Grand Rapids 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 Rapids, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Coleraine, MN radar 4 mi
- Cohasset, MN radar 6 mi
- Hibbing, MN radar 30 mi
- Chisholm, MN radar 35 mi
- Crosslake, MN radar 47 mi
- Mountain Iron, MN radar 48 mi
- Eveleth, MN radar 49 mi
- Aitkin, MN radar 50 mi
- Virginia, MN radar 52 mi
- Gilbert, MN radar 53 mi