McKinley, MN Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for McKinley, St. Louis County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for McKinleyWhat TALON shows

What weather hits McKinley?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 155 days in the Central St. Louis forecast zone and St. Louis County — the most common reported hazard around McKinley, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (103 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (76 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds155Jun 2026Jul 19, 2021 · 1 death
Heavy snow & winter storms103Apr 2026Nov 11, 2021 · 2 deaths
Extreme cold & wind chill76Jan 2026Jan 12, 2017 · 1 death
Flash flooding27Jul 2025Jul 6, 1996 · $300,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage25Jul 2025Aug 18, 2012 · 1 death
Flooding11Jun 2024Jul 1, 2022 · $1.4 million damage
Ice storms & sleet6Dec 2016—
Wildfires4Jun 2025May 12, 2025 · $13 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 Central St. Louis forecast zone and St. Louis County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover McKinley?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 47 miles south-southeast. 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over McKinleyView
KDLH
Duluth, MN		47 mi south-southeast3,300 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KMPX
Minneapolis, MN		192 mi south-southwest27,300 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KMVX
Grand Forks, ND		230 mi west36,900 ftLimited — 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 McKinley

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 17 tornadoes within 25 miles of McKinley, 5 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and July. The strongest was an F3 on August 6, 1969, which passed about 16 miles northwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on September 19, 2024, which passed about 23 miles south of town.

Hail: 109 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 12 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.50-inch hail on June 12, 2024.

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 McKinley'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.

McKinley radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to McKinley, MN?

KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 47 miles south-southeast. KMPX (Minneapolis, MN) is 192 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in McKinley?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over McKinley the lowest scan from KDLH is about 3,300 ft up.

Is TALON's radar for McKinley 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 McKinley, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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