Lakefield, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lakefield, Jackson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lakefield?
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 Lakefield, 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 Lakefield get?
A normal year brings about 49 inches of snow to Lakefield, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Lakefield 2Ne weather station 1.9 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 Lakefield?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 78 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 Lakefield | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 78 mi west | 6,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 113 mi northeast | 11,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 153 mi south-southeast | 18,800 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 Lakefield
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 87 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lakefield, 17 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on March 29, 1998, which passed about 24 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 17 miles west of town.
Hail: 301 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 22 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on May 12, 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 Lakefield'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.
Lakefield radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lakefield, MN?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 78 miles west. KMPX (Minneapolis, MN) is 113 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lakefield?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lakefield the lowest scan from KFSD is about 6,700 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Lakefield 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 Lakefield, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Jackson, MN radar 10 mi
- Windom, MN radar 14 mi
- Mountain Lake, MN radar 22 mi
- Worthington, MN radar 22 mi
- Sherburn, MN radar 22 mi
- Fulda, MN radar 25 mi
- St. James, MN radar 34 mi
- Fairmont, MN radar 35 mi
- Slayton, MN radar 36 mi
- Truman, MN radar 38 mi