Rice Lake, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Rice Lake, St. Louis County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Rice Lake?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 155 days in the Carlton/South St. Louis forecast zone and St. Louis County — the most common reported hazard around Rice Lake, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (129 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (58 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 155 | Jun 2026 | Jul 19, 2021 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 129 | Apr 2026 | Mar 16, 2023 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 58 | Jan 2026 | Dec 16, 2017 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 27 | Jul 2025 | Jul 6, 1996 · $300,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 25 | Jul 2025 | Aug 18, 2012 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 20 | Jun 2024 | Oct 9, 2018 · $18 million damage |
| Blizzards | 13 | Mar 2026 | Feb 29, 2012 · $1.0 million damage |
| High winds | 8 | Apr 2023 | — |
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 Carlton/South St. Louis forecast zone and St. Louis County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Rice Lake get?
A normal year brings about 90 inches of snow to Rice Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Duluth weather station 6.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (18.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7 | 14.1 | 18.7 | 16.8 | 15.1 | 12.8 | 9.1 | 0.8 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Rice Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 6 miles southwest. 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 Rice Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDLH Duluth, MN | 6 mi southwest | 300 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 158 mi south-southwest | 19,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 218 mi south-southeast | 33,800 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 Rice Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 14 tornadoes within 25 miles of Rice Lake, 3 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F3 on August 6, 1969, which passed about 10 miles north of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on September 19, 2024, which passed about 21 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 187 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 20 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on September 8, 1958.
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 Rice 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.
Rice Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Rice Lake, MN?
KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 6 miles southwest. KMPX (Minneapolis, MN) is 158 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Rice Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Rice Lake the lowest scan from KDLH is about 300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Rice 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 Rice Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Hermantown, MN radar 9 mi
- Duluth, MN radar 9 mi
- Proctor, MN radar 12 mi
- Cloquet, MN radar 22 mi
- Two Harbors, MN radar 23 mi
- Gilbert, MN radar 43 mi
- Aurora, MN radar 43 mi
- Moose Lake, MN radar 44 mi
- Eveleth, MN radar 44 mi
- Hoyt Lakes, MN radar 46 mi