Madison, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Madison, Lac qui Parle County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Madison?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 83 days in the Lac Qui Parle forecast zone and Lac qui Parle County — the most common reported hazard around Madison, mostly in March and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (50 days) and blizzards (41 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 83 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 50 | Jun 2026 | Oct 8, 1997 · $1.0 million damage |
| Blizzards | 41 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 35 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 16 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 13 | Apr 2023 | Mar 17, 2010 · $515,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 12 | Aug 2023 | — |
| Flash flooding | 3 | Jun 2025 | — |
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 Lac Qui Parle forecast zone and Lac qui Parle County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Madison get?
A normal year brings about 47 inches of snow to Madison, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Madison Wwtp weather station 1.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (9.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.9 | 5.5 | 9.9 | 7.7 | 9.3 | 7.7 | 5.8 | 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 Madison?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 102 miles south-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 Madison | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 102 mi south-southwest | 9,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 112 mi west-northwest | 11,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 129 mi east | 14,200 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 Madison
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 68 tornadoes within 25 miles of Madison, 9 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F3 on June 16, 1992, which touched down about 25 miles southeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on June 28, 2025, which touched down about 4 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 237 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 35 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.50-inch hail on May 3, 1959.
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 Madison'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.
Madison radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Madison, MN?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 102 miles south-southwest. KABR (Aberdeen, SD) is 112 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Madison?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Madison the lowest scan from KFSD is about 9,900 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Madison 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 Madison, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Dawson, MN radar 9 mi
- Appleton, MN radar 15 mi
- Canby, MN radar 21 mi
- Ortonville, MN radar 24 mi
- Montevideo, MN radar 24 mi
- Minneota, MN radar 33 mi
- Granite Falls, MN radar 35 mi
- Benson, MN radar 35 mi
- Cottonwood, MN radar 38 mi
- Clara City, MN radar 40 mi