Mentor, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Mentor, Polk County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Mentor?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 117 days in the East Polk forecast zone and Polk County — the most common reported hazard around Mentor, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (87 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (66 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 117 | Jun 2026 | Aug 8, 2001 · $500,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 87 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 66 | Jan 2026 | Mar 8, 2003 · $21,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 32 | Dec 2025 | Jan 9, 1997 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 29 | Aug 2024 | Aug 17, 2005 · $200,000 damage |
| Flooding | 17 | Aug 2024 | Apr 1, 2006 · $932,000 damage |
| High winds | 13 | May 2022 | Aug 31, 1997 · $2,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Feb 2009 | — |
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 East Polk forecast zone and Polk County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Mentor get?
A normal year brings about 50 inches of snow to Mentor, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Red Lake Falls weather station 14.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (12.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 | 5.6 | 12.4 | 10.1 | 8.6 | 7.8 | 3.8 | 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 Mentor?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMVX (Grand Forks, ND), about 56 miles west-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 Mentor | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMVX Grand Forks, ND | 56 mi west-southwest | 4,200 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 189 mi southwest | 26,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDLH Duluth, MN | 194 mi east-southeast | 27,700 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 Mentor
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 72 tornadoes within 25 miles of Mentor, 10 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an EF3 on June 17, 2010, which crossed near town and caused 1 death. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on May 15, 2025, which touched down about 19 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 225 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 20 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.50-inch hail on July 6, 1957.
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 Mentor'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.
Mentor radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Mentor, MN?
KMVX (Grand Forks, ND), about 56 miles west-southwest. KABR (Aberdeen, SD) is 189 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Mentor?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Mentor the lowest scan from KMVX is about 4,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Mentor 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 Mentor, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Red Lake Falls, MN radar 14 mi
- Fosston, MN radar 20 mi
- Crookston, MN radar 22 mi
- Mahnomen, MN radar 28 mi
- Thief River Falls, MN radar 29 mi
- Ada, MN radar 33 mi
- Bagley, MN radar 37 mi
- East Grand Forks, MN radar 43 mi
- Warren, MN radar 45 mi
- Hawley, MN radar 57 mi