Hill City, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Hill City, Aitkin County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Hill City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 85 days in the Northern Aitkin forecast zone and Aitkin County — the most common reported hazard around Hill City, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (80 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (29 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 85 | Jun 2026 | Jun 23, 2025 · $20,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 80 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 29 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 12 | May 2013 | — |
| Flash flooding | 9 | Aug 2020 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Jan 2010 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Aug 2025 | Aug 8, 2025 · $10,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 2 | 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 Northern Aitkin forecast zone and Aitkin County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Hill City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 66 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 Hill City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDLH Duluth, MN | 66 mi east | 5,200 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 148 mi south | 17,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMVX Grand Forks, ND | 179 mi west-northwest | 24,300 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 Hill City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 16 tornadoes within 25 miles of Hill City, 4 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and September. The strongest was an F4 on August 6, 1969, which crossed near town and caused 12 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on May 30, 2022, which touched down about 17 miles north of town.
Hail: 120 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 Hill 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.
Hill City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Hill City, MN?
KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 66 miles east. KMPX (Minneapolis, MN) is 148 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Hill City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Hill City the lowest scan from KDLH is about 5,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Hill 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 Hill City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Grand Rapids, MN radar 18 mi
- Cohasset, MN radar 18 mi
- Coleraine, MN radar 20 mi
- Crosslake, MN radar 32 mi
- Aitkin, MN radar 32 mi
- Crosby, MN radar 38 mi
- Breezy Point, MN radar 39 mi
- Hibbing, MN radar 42 mi
- Pequot Lakes, MN radar 43 mi
- Nisswa, MN radar 47 mi