Madelia, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Madelia, Watonwan County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Madelia?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 62 days in the Watonwan forecast zone and Watonwan County — the most common reported hazard around Madelia, mostly in January and March. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (36 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (32 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 62 | Nov 2025 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 36 | Jun 2026 | Jun 20, 2019 · $500,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 32 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 31 | Mar 2026 | — |
| High winds | 17 | Mar 2026 | Apr 7, 2001 · $8.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 11 | Aug 2023 | — |
| Flash flooding | 10 | Jun 2024 | — |
| Flooding | 8 | Mar 2019 | Sep 23, 2010 · $3.9 million damage |
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 Watonwan forecast zone and Watonwan County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Madelia get?
A normal year brings about 50 inches of snow to Madelia, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the St James Wwtp weather station 10.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (11.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.6 | 4.9 | 11.2 | 10.8 | 11.0 | 8.2 | 3.5 | 0.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Madelia?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 70 miles northeast. 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 Madelia | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 70 mi northeast | 5,600 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 119 mi west-southwest | 12,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 161 mi east | 20,500 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 Madelia
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 102 tornadoes within 25 miles of Madelia, 18 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F4 on March 29, 1998, which passed about 12 miles north-northwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 16, 2025, which touched down about 18 miles north of town.
Hail: 259 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 17 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on March 29, 1998.
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 Madelia'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.
Madelia radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Madelia, MN?
KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 70 miles northeast. KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD) is 119 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Madelia?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Madelia the lowest scan from KMPX is about 5,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Madelia 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 Madelia, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Lake Crystal, MN radar 11 mi
- St. James, MN radar 11 mi
- Truman, MN radar 15 mi
- New Ulm, MN radar 18 mi
- Nicollet, MN radar 19 mi
- North Mankato, MN radar 21 mi
- Sleepy Eye, MN radar 23 mi
- Winnebago, MN radar 23 mi
- Mankato, MN radar 24 mi
- Mapleton, MN radar 25 mi