Mahtowa, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Mahtowa, Carlton County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Mahtowa?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 129 days in the Carlton/South St. Louis forecast zone and Carlton County — the most common reported hazard around Mahtowa, mostly in March and December. Next come extreme cold & wind chill (58 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (47 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 129 | Apr 2026 | Mar 16, 2023 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 58 | Jan 2026 | Dec 16, 2017 · 1 death |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 47 | Jun 2026 | Jun 10, 2026 · $10,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 13 | Mar 2026 | Feb 29, 2012 · $1.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 12 | Dec 2019 | Oct 9, 2018 · $18 million damage |
| High winds | 8 | Apr 2023 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 8 | Dec 2022 | Apr 22, 2001 · $4.2 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 8 | Jun 2024 | Jun 20, 2012 · $20 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 Carlton/South St. Louis forecast zone and Carlton County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Mahtowa get?
A normal year brings about 71 inches of snow to Mahtowa, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Cloquet weather station 11.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (15.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 | 9.6 | 15.9 | 13.5 | 13.5 | 10.3 | 6.4 | 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 Mahtowa?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 28 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 Mahtowa | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDLH Duluth, MN | 28 mi northeast | 1,700 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 126 mi south-southwest | 13,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 201 mi south-southeast | 29,500 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 Mahtowa
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 12 tornadoes within 25 miles of Mahtowa, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F4 on June 11, 1966, which passed about 21 miles north-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on June 12, 2024, which passed about 16 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 144 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 6 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on September 16, 2021.
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 Mahtowa'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.
Mahtowa radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Mahtowa, MN?
KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 28 miles northeast. KMPX (Minneapolis, MN) is 126 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Mahtowa?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Mahtowa the lowest scan from KDLH is about 1,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Mahtowa 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 Mahtowa, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Moose Lake, MN radar 9 mi
- Cloquet, MN radar 14 mi
- Proctor, MN radar 23 mi
- Hermantown, MN radar 26 mi
- Duluth, MN radar 28 mi
- Sandstone, MN radar 31 mi
- Rice Lake, MN radar 34 mi
- Hinckley, MN radar 40 mi
- Aitkin, MN radar 51 mi
- Pine City, MN radar 52 mi