Sanborn, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Sanborn, Redwood County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Sanborn?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 70 days in the Redwood forecast zone and Redwood County — the most common reported hazard around Sanborn, mostly in March and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (58 days) and blizzards (37 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 70 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 58 | Jun 2025 | Jul 1, 2011 · $3.0 million damage |
| Blizzards | 37 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 35 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 18 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 16 | Apr 2023 | Sep 15, 2019 · 1 death |
| Excessive heat | 14 | Aug 2023 | Jul 18, 2011 · $1.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 11 | Aug 2025 | Jul 3, 2018 · $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 Redwood forecast zone and Redwood County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Sanborn get?
A normal year brings about 42 inches of snow to Sanborn, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Springfield 1 Nw weather station 7.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (10.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 5.3 | 10.5 | 6.8 | 7.5 | 7.7 | 3.8 | 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 Sanborn?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 89 miles east-northeast. 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 Sanborn | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 89 mi east-northeast | 8,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 91 mi west-southwest | 8,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 183 mi west-northwest | 25,100 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 Sanborn
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 74 tornadoes within 25 miles of Sanborn, 15 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and August. The strongest was an F5 on June 13, 1968, which passed about 24 miles west-northwest of town and caused 9 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on August 5, 2024, which touched down about 23 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 210 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 28 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 28, 1991.
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 Sanborn'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.
Sanborn radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Sanborn, MN?
KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 89 miles east-northeast. KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD) is 91 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Sanborn?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Sanborn the lowest scan from KMPX 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 Sanborn 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 Sanborn, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Springfield, MN radar 8 mi
- Sleepy Eye, MN radar 21 mi
- Mountain Lake, MN radar 21 mi
- Windom, MN radar 23 mi
- Redwood Falls, MN radar 23 mi
- Tracy, MN radar 24 mi
- St. James, MN radar 30 mi
- Fairfax, MN radar 30 mi
- New Ulm, MN radar 33 mi
- Fulda, MN radar 33 mi