Princeton, MN Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Princeton, Mille Lacs County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for PrincetonWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Princeton?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 86 days in the Mille Lacs forecast zone and Mille Lacs County — the most common reported hazard around Princeton, mostly in December and February. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (56 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (26 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Heavy snow & winter storms86Dec 2025—
Damaging thunderstorm winds56Jun 2026Aug 14, 2020 · $250,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill26Jan 2026—
Flash flooding9Aug 2016Apr 22, 2001 · $300,000 damage
Excessive heat8Aug 2022—
Flooding4Oct 2005—
High winds3Oct 2010Oct 26, 2010 · $10,000 damage
Blizzards2Dec 2020—

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 Mille Lacs forecast zone and Mille Lacs County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

How much snow does Princeton get?

A normal year brings about 49 inches of snow to Princeton, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Santiago 3 E weather station 8.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (10.5 in).

OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMay
0.86.510.59.89.58.73.50.1

Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.

Which radars cover Princeton?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 50 miles south. 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over PrincetonView
KMPX
Minneapolis, MN		50 mi south3,500 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KDLH
Duluth, MN		110 mi northeast11,100 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KARX
La Crosse, WI		169 mi southeast22,000 ftLimited — 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 Princeton

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 58 tornadoes within 25 miles of Princeton, 11 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F2 on July 22, 1967, which passed about 15 miles southwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on August 29, 2024, which passed about 22 miles southeast of town.

Hail: 355 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 56 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on June 20, 2007.

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 Princeton'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.

Princeton radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Princeton, MN?

KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 50 miles south. KDLH (Duluth, MN) is 110 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Princeton?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Princeton the lowest scan from KMPX is about 3,500 ft up.

Is TALON's radar for Princeton 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 Princeton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

Radar for nearby towns

All Minnesota towns →