Knife River, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Knife River, Lake County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Knife River?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 124 days in the Southern Lake/North Shore forecast zone and Lake County — the most common reported hazard around Knife River, mostly in December and January. Next come extreme cold & wind chill (40 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (29 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 124 | Apr 2026 | Nov 25, 2025 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 40 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 29 | Jun 2025 | Jul 21, 2016 · 2 deaths |
| Ice storms & sleet | 11 | Mar 2025 | Mar 23, 2009 · $815,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 9 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 8 | Jun 2024 | Jun 19, 2012 · $1.9 million damage |
| High winds | 4 | Nov 2023 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 2 | Jul 2013 | Jun 28, 1996 · 1 death |
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 Southern Lake/North Shore forecast zone and Lake County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Knife River get?
A normal year brings about 61 inches of snow to Knife River, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Two Harbors weather station 7.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (15.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 5.9 | 15.5 | 12.4 | 13.6 | 9.1 | 4.3 | 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 Knife River?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 22 miles west-southwest. 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 Knife River | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDLH Duluth, MN | 22 mi west-southwest | 1,200 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 169 mi south-southwest | 22,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMQT Marquette, MI | 203 mi east | 29,900 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 Knife River
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 13 tornadoes within 25 miles of Knife River, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and August. The strongest was an F3 on August 6, 1969, which passed about 6 miles north of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on May 18, 2022, which passed about 12 miles west of town.
Hail: 128 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 18 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on September 8, 1958.
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 Knife River'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.
Knife River radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Knife River, MN?
KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 22 miles west-southwest. KMPX (Minneapolis, MN) is 169 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Knife River?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Knife River the lowest scan from KDLH is about 1,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Knife River 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 Knife River, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Two Harbors, MN radar 8 mi
- Rice Lake, MN radar 17 mi
- Duluth, MN radar 20 mi
- Hermantown, MN radar 24 mi
- Proctor, MN radar 25 mi
- Silver Bay, MN radar 34 mi
- Cloquet, MN radar 37 mi
- Aurora, MN radar 46 mi
- Hoyt Lakes, MN radar 46 mi
- Babbitt, MN radar 48 mi