Prior Lake, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Prior Lake, Scott County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Prior Lake?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 92 days in the Scott forecast zone and Scott County — the most common reported hazard around Prior Lake, mostly in March and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (79 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (18 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 92 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 79 | Jul 2025 | May 15, 1998 · $170 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 18 | Jan 2026 | Dec 22, 2022 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 16 | Mar 2019 | Jun 18, 2014 · $9.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 14 | Aug 2023 | — |
| Flash flooding | 14 | Aug 2017 | Jul 13, 2013 · $500,000 damage |
| High winds | 11 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 6 | Mar 2026 | — |
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 Scott forecast zone and Scott County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Prior Lake get?
A normal year brings about 55 inches of snow to Prior Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Chanhassen Wsfo weather station 10.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (13.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.6 | 5.1 | 13.3 | 10.0 | 11.2 | 9.1 | 5.4 | 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 Prior Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 10 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 Prior Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 10 mi northwest | 500 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 128 mi east-southeast | 14,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDLH Duluth, MN | 158 mi north-northeast | 19,700 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 Prior Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 119 tornadoes within 25 miles of Prior Lake, 20 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on May 6, 1965, which passed about 18 miles north of town and caused 6 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on June 28, 2025, which passed about 15 miles west of town.
Hail: 806 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 103 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on August 24, 2006.
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 Prior Lake'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.
Prior Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Prior Lake, MN?
KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 10 miles northwest. KARX (La Crosse, WI) is 128 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Prior Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Prior Lake the lowest scan from KMPX is about 500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Prior Lake 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 Prior Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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