Ranier, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Ranier, Koochiching County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Ranier?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 70 days in the Koochiching forecast zone and Koochiching County — the most common reported hazard around Ranier, mostly in March and December. Next come extreme cold & wind chill (62 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (33 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 70 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 62 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 33 | Jul 2025 | Jul 11, 2008 · $5,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 8 | Jan 2013 | — |
| Flooding | 5 | Jul 2022 | Jul 1, 2022 · $2.4 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Sep 2005 | Aug 16, 1998 · $25,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 2 | Jul 2010 | — |
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 Koochiching forecast zone and Koochiching County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Ranier get?
A normal year brings about 73 inches of snow to Ranier, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Intl Falls Intl Ap weather station 3.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (15.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 | 12.1 | 15.8 | 15.7 | 12.6 | 7.9 | 7.0 | 0.2 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Ranier?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 133 miles south-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 Ranier | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDLH Duluth, MN | 133 mi south-southeast | 15,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMVX Grand Forks, ND | 198 mi west-southwest | 28,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 260 mi south | 45,700 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 Ranier
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 7 tornadoes within 25 miles of Ranier, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F2 on September 1, 1973, which passed about 9 miles southeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on July 17, 2019, which passed about 17 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 59 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 12 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on August 3, 1989.
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 Ranier'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.
Ranier radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Ranier, MN?
KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 133 miles south-southeast. KMVX (Grand Forks, ND) is 198 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Ranier?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Ranier the lowest scan from KDLH is about 15,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Ranier 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 Ranier, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.