Pelican Rapids, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Pelican Rapids, Otter Tail County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Pelican Rapids?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 125 days in the West Otter Tail forecast zone and Otter Tail County — the most common reported hazard around Pelican Rapids, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (86 days) and blizzards (60 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 | 86 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 60 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 53 | Jan 2026 | Mar 8, 2003 · $21,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 29 | Aug 2020 | Jul 4, 2010 · $300,000 damage |
| High winds | 24 | Mar 2026 | Jun 11, 2008 · $1.2 million 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 West Otter Tail forecast zone and Otter Tail County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Pelican Rapids get?
A normal year brings about 54 inches of snow to Pelican Rapids, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Pelican Rapids weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually January (11.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 | 7.5 | 11.0 | 11.2 | 7.6 | 9.3 | 5.5 | 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 Pelican Rapids?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMVX (Grand Forks, ND), about 88 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 Pelican Rapids | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMVX Grand Forks, ND | 88 mi northwest | 8,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 136 mi west-southwest | 15,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 170 mi southeast | 22,300 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 Pelican Rapids
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 80 tornadoes within 25 miles of Pelican Rapids, 15 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F5 on June 20, 1957, which passed about 22 miles north-northwest of town and caused 10 deaths. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 16, 2025, which touched down about 19 miles east of town.
Hail: 267 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 39 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 11, 2004.
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 Pelican Rapids'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.
Pelican Rapids radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Pelican Rapids, MN?
KMVX (Grand Forks, ND), about 88 miles northwest. KABR (Aberdeen, SD) is 136 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Pelican Rapids?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Pelican Rapids the lowest scan from KMVX is about 8,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Pelican Rapids 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 Pelican Rapids, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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