St. Charles, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for St. Charles, Winona County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits St. Charles?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 82 days in the Winona forecast zone and Winona County — the most common reported hazard around St. Charles, mostly in January and February. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (72 days) and flooding (58 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 82 | Mar 2026 | Mar 14, 2026 · $20,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 72 | Jun 2026 | May 3, 2015 · 1 death · $10,000 damage |
| Flooding | 58 | Jul 2024 | May 1, 2001 · $2.3 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 25 | Aug 2024 | Aug 18, 2007 · 5 deaths · $425,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 23 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 13 | Jun 2026 | Jul 17, 2011 · $10,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 9 | Sep 2019 | May 30, 1998 · $40,000 damage |
| High winds | 8 | Dec 2021 | Nov 10, 1998 · $75,000 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 Winona forecast zone and Winona County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does St. Charles get?
A normal year brings about 45 inches of snow to St. Charles, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Altura 5W weather station 6.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (11.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 | 2.2 | 11.0 | 8.6 | 11.0 | 8.2 | 2.9 | 0.6 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover St. Charles?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 44 miles east-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 St. Charles | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 44 mi east-southeast | 3,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 96 mi northwest | 9,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 176 mi south-southwest | 23,600 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 St. Charles
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 72 tornadoes within 25 miles of St. Charles, 13 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on May 10, 1953, which passed about 7 miles southeast of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on May 21, 2024, which passed about 3 miles east-northeast of town.
Hail: 360 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 40 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on July 13, 2023.
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 St. Charles'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.
St. Charles radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to St. Charles, MN?
KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 44 miles east-southeast. KMPX (Minneapolis, MN) is 96 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in St. Charles?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over St. Charles the lowest scan from KARX is about 3,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for St. Charles 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 St. Charles, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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