Paynesville, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Paynesville, Stearns County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Paynesville?
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 Paynesville, 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 Paynesville get?
A normal year brings about 50 inches of snow to Paynesville, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the New London weather station 11.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (10.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 | 9.0 | 7.9 | 10.3 | 9.1 | 8.4 | 4.7 | 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 Paynesville?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 67 miles east-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 Paynesville | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 67 mi east-southeast | 5,400 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDLH Duluth, MN | 157 mi northeast | 19,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 158 mi southwest | 19,900 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 Paynesville
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 93 tornadoes within 25 miles of Paynesville, 7 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and August. The strongest was an EF3 on July 11, 2008, which passed about 24 miles south-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 15, 2025, which touched down about 10 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 254 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 33 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 Paynesville'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.
Paynesville radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Paynesville, MN?
KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 67 miles east-southeast. KDLH (Duluth, MN) is 157 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Paynesville?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Paynesville the lowest scan from KMPX is about 5,400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Paynesville 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 Paynesville, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Eden Valley, MN radar 9 mi
- Richmond, MN radar 11 mi
- New London, MN radar 12 mi
- Spicer, MN radar 15 mi
- Cold Spring, MN radar 15 mi
- Watkins, MN radar 16 mi
- Atwater, MN radar 17 mi
- Albany, MN radar 19 mi
- Litchfield, MN radar 20 mi
- Rockville, MN radar 20 mi