Ortonville, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Ortonville, Big Stone County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Ortonville?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 64 days in the Big Stone forecast zone and Big Stone County — the most common reported hazard around Ortonville, mostly in March and February. Next come blizzards (55 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (46 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 64 | Apr 2025 | Jan 3, 1997 · 1 death |
| Blizzards | 55 | Dec 2025 | Dec 23, 1996 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 46 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 45 | Jun 2026 | — |
| High winds | 24 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 17 | Jul 2025 | Jun 2, 2024 · $332,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 7 | Jun 2025 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Dec 2016 | — |
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 Big Stone forecast zone and Big Stone County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Ortonville get?
A normal year brings about 44 inches of snow to Ortonville, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Ortonville 1N weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually December (12.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.6 | 2.7 | 12.7 | 6.1 | 8.0 | 5.8 | 7.7 | 0.0 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Ortonville?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABR (Aberdeen, SD), about 96 miles west. 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 Ortonville | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 96 mi west | 9,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 119 mi south | 12,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 144 mi east-southeast | 17,000 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 Ortonville
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 70 tornadoes within 25 miles of Ortonville, 5 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and October. The strongest was an F3 on May 17, 1996, which passed about 2 miles west-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on June 28, 2025, which touched down about 20 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 236 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 39 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 6.00-inch hail on July 31, 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 Ortonville'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.
Ortonville radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Ortonville, MN?
KABR (Aberdeen, SD), about 96 miles west. KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD) is 119 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Ortonville?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Ortonville the lowest scan from KABR is about 9,100 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Ortonville 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 Ortonville, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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