Granite Falls, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Granite Falls, Yellow Medicine County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Granite Falls?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 76 days in the Yellow Medicine forecast zone and Yellow Medicine County — the most common reported hazard around Granite Falls, mostly in March and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (47 days) and blizzards (40 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 76 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 47 | Jun 2026 | Aug 8, 2020 · $1.8 million damage |
| Blizzards | 40 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 36 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 18 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 14 | Aug 2023 | Aug 4, 2001 · 5 deaths |
| Flooding | 9 | Mar 2019 | Mar 16, 2010 · $420,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 5 | Jun 2025 | Jun 18, 2014 · $5,000 damage |
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 Yellow Medicine forecast zone and Yellow Medicine County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Granite Falls get?
A normal year brings about 52 inches of snow to Granite Falls, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Granite Falls weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually February (11.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 | 6.6 | 11.1 | 9.4 | 11.7 | 7.9 | 3.9 | 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 Granite Falls?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 97 miles east. 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 Granite Falls | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 97 mi east | 9,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 103 mi southwest | 10,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 147 mi west-northwest | 17,600 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 Granite Falls
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 72 tornadoes within 25 miles of Granite Falls, 14 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on July 25, 2000, which crossed near town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on May 15, 2025, which passed about 21 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 201 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 May 9, 2022.
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 Granite Falls'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.
Granite Falls radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Granite Falls, MN?
KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 97 miles east. KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD) is 103 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Granite Falls?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Granite Falls the lowest scan from KMPX is about 9,200 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Granite Falls 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 Granite Falls, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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