Kensington, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Kensington, Douglas County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Kensington?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 75 days in the Douglas forecast zone and Douglas County — the most common reported hazard around Kensington, mostly in March and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (65 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (43 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 75 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 65 | Jun 2026 | Jun 20, 2022 · 1 death · $25,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 43 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 26 | Mar 2025 | — |
| High winds | 18 | Apr 2022 | — |
| Excessive heat | 7 | Jul 2011 | — |
| Flash flooding | 6 | Jul 2011 | Apr 7, 2001 · $200,000 damage |
| Flooding | 4 | Jun 2003 | — |
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 Douglas forecast zone and Douglas County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Kensington get?
A normal year brings about 46 inches of snow to Kensington, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Glenwood 2Wnw weather station 14.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (10.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.6 | 5.3 | 10.4 | 10.6 | 8.9 | 7.6 | 2.9 | 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 Kensington?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 122 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 Kensington | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 122 mi east-southeast | 13,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 133 mi west | 15,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMVX Grand Forks, ND | 143 mi north-northwest | 16,900 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 Kensington
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 82 tornadoes within 25 miles of Kensington, 15 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an EF4 on June 17, 2010, which passed about 25 miles north-northeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on May 30, 2022, which passed about 21 miles south of town.
Hail: 262 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 28 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on June 17, 2010.
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 Kensington'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.
Kensington radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Kensington, MN?
KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 122 miles east-southeast. KABR (Aberdeen, SD) is 133 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Kensington?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Kensington the lowest scan from KMPX is about 13,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Kensington 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 Kensington, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Starbuck, MN radar 14 mi
- Morris, MN radar 17 mi
- Alexandria, MN radar 17 mi
- Glenwood, MN radar 17 mi
- Elbow Lake, MN radar 20 mi
- Osakis, MN radar 27 mi
- Parkers Prairie, MN radar 31 mi
- Benson, MN radar 32 mi
- Sauk Centre, MN radar 36 mi
- Wheaton, MN radar 39 mi