Melrose, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Melrose, Stearns County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Melrose?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 112 days in the Stearns forecast zone and Stearns County — the most common reported hazard around Melrose, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (91 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (39 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 112 | Jun 2026 | Sep 19, 2017 · $1.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 91 | Mar 2026 | Dec 10, 2010 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 39 | Jan 2026 | Jan 9, 2014 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 17 | Jul 2025 | Apr 7, 2001 · $6.0 million damage |
| High winds | 11 | Dec 2021 | — |
| Excessive heat | 10 | Aug 2023 | — |
| Blizzards | 9 | Feb 2022 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 9 | Oct 2015 | May 6, 2009 · 1 death |
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 Stearns forecast zone and Stearns County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Melrose get?
A normal year brings about 39 inches of snow to Melrose, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Melrose weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually February (9.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 | 4.0 | 8.1 | 5.0 | 9.0 | 7.2 | 5.1 | 0.2 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Melrose?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 83 miles 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.
| Radar | Distance | Lowest beam over Melrose | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 83 mi southeast | 7,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDLH Duluth, MN | 148 mi east-northeast | 17,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 172 mi southwest | 22,800 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 Melrose
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 65 tornadoes within 25 miles of Melrose, 5 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F3 on May 5, 1964, which passed about 4 miles east-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 15, 2025, which touched down about 8 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 198 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 12 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on July 17, 2010.
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 Melrose'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.
Melrose radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Melrose, MN?
KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 83 miles southeast. KDLH (Duluth, MN) is 148 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Melrose?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Melrose the lowest scan from KMPX is about 7,300 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Melrose 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 Melrose, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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