Heron Lake, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Heron Lake, Jackson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Heron Lake?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 55 days in the Jackson forecast zone and Jackson County — the most common reported hazard around Heron Lake, mostly in January and March. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (47 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (39 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 55 | Nov 2025 | Apr 9, 2013 · $15 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 47 | Jun 2026 | Aug 3, 2004 · $100,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 39 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Blizzards | 37 | Mar 2026 | Mar 24, 1996 · 1 death · $10,000 damage |
| High winds | 34 | Mar 2026 | Jan 22, 2005 · $100,000 damage |
| Flooding | 32 | Jul 2024 | Jun 1, 2019 · $13 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 21 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 14 | Aug 2018 | — |
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 Jackson forecast zone and Jackson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Heron Lake get?
A normal year brings about 49 inches of snow to Heron Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Lakefield 2Ne weather station 10.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (10.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | 5.2 | 10.2 | 9.2 | 9.3 | 7.8 | 5.4 | 0.3 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Heron Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 72 miles west. 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 Heron Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 72 mi west | 5,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 113 mi northeast | 11,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 164 mi south-southeast | 21,100 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 Heron Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 85 tornadoes within 25 miles of Heron Lake, 12 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and August. The strongest was an F4 on March 29, 1998, which passed about 13 miles north-northwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on April 28, 2025, which touched down about 12 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 255 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 24 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 6.00-inch hail on July 28, 1986.
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 Heron Lake'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.
Heron Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Heron Lake, MN?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 72 miles west. KMPX (Minneapolis, MN) is 113 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Heron Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Heron Lake the lowest scan from KFSD is about 5,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Heron Lake 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 Heron Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Lakefield, MN radar 11 mi
- Windom, MN radar 11 mi
- Fulda, MN radar 15 mi
- Worthington, MN radar 18 mi
- Jackson, MN radar 20 mi
- Mountain Lake, MN radar 22 mi
- Slayton, MN radar 26 mi
- Sherburn, MN radar 31 mi
- Adrian, MN radar 33 mi
- Tracy, MN radar 34 mi