Ottertail, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Ottertail, Otter Tail County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Ottertail?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 125 days in the East Otter Tail forecast zone and Otter Tail County — the most common reported hazard around Ottertail, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (83 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (51 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 125 | Jun 2026 | Jun 18, 2001 · $5.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 83 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 51 | Jan 2026 | Mar 8, 2003 · $21,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 29 | Aug 2020 | Jul 4, 2010 · $300,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 21 | Mar 2025 | — |
| High winds | 17 | Jun 2026 | Apr 28, 2004 · $15,000 damage |
| Flooding | 9 | Aug 2020 | May 27, 2012 · $105,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 7 | Jul 2002 | Jun 18, 2001 · $500,000 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 East Otter Tail forecast zone and Otter Tail County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Ottertail get?
A normal year brings about 46 inches of snow to Ottertail, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the New York Mills weather station 10.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (10.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 | 5.3 | 10.4 | 9.6 | 8.0 | 7.8 | 3.3 | 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 Ottertail?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMVX (Grand Forks, ND), about 112 miles northwest. 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 Ottertail | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMVX Grand Forks, ND | 112 mi northwest | 11,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 146 mi southeast | 17,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 152 mi west-southwest | 18,600 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 Ottertail
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 71 tornadoes within 25 miles of Ottertail, 20 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an EF4 on June 17, 2010, which passed about 12 miles east-southeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 16, 2025, which touched down about 11 miles south of town.
Hail: 258 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 38 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on July 8, 2000.
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 Ottertail'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.
Ottertail radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Ottertail, MN?
KMVX (Grand Forks, ND), about 112 miles northwest. KMPX (Minneapolis, MN) is 146 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Ottertail?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Ottertail the lowest scan from KMVX is about 11,500 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Ottertail 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 Ottertail, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- New York Mills, MN radar 11 mi
- Perham, MN radar 12 mi
- Wadena, MN radar 21 mi
- Frazee, MN radar 21 mi
- Parkers Prairie, MN radar 22 mi
- Fergus Falls, MN radar 26 mi
- Pelican Rapids, MN radar 26 mi
- Detroit Lakes, MN radar 29 mi
- Menahga, MN radar 31 mi
- Elbow Lake, MN radar 36 mi