Minnesota Lake, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Minnesota Lake, Faribault County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Minnesota Lake?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 80 days in the Faribault forecast zone and Faribault County — the most common reported hazard around Minnesota Lake, mostly in January and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (52 days) and blizzards (27 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 80 | Nov 2025 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 52 | May 2026 | May 15, 1998 · $10 million damage |
| Blizzards | 27 | Mar 2026 | Dec 23, 2020 · $120,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 27 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 17 | Aug 2024 | — |
| High winds | 16 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 11 | Aug 2023 | — |
| Flooding | 9 | Jun 2014 | Sep 14, 2004 · $4.7 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 Faribault forecast zone and Faribault County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Minnesota Lake get?
A normal year brings about 40 inches of snow to Minnesota Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Wells weather station 8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (10.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 | 2.6 | 10.9 | 8.5 | 8.6 | 5.8 | 2.9 | 0.4 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Minnesota Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 71 miles north. 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 Minnesota Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 71 mi north | 5,800 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 132 mi east | 14,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 146 mi west | 17,400 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 Minnesota Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 132 tornadoes within 25 miles of Minnesota Lake, 23 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on April 30, 1967, which passed about 16 miles east of town and caused 6 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on June 25, 2025, which touched down about 14 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 257 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 24 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on June 25, 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 Minnesota Lake'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.
Minnesota Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Minnesota Lake, MN?
KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 71 miles north. KARX (La Crosse, WI) is 132 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Minnesota Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Minnesota Lake the lowest scan from KMPX is about 5,800 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Minnesota Lake 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 Minnesota Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Wells, MN radar 8 mi
- Mapleton, MN radar 9 mi
- New Richland, MN radar 17 mi
- Winnebago, MN radar 18 mi
- Blue Earth, MN radar 19 mi
- Janesville, MN radar 20 mi
- Eagle Lake, MN radar 22 mi
- Waseca, MN radar 23 mi
- Mankato, MN radar 24 mi
- Madison Lake, MN radar 25 mi