Stephen, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Stephen, Marshall County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Stephen?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged blizzard conditions on 83 days in the West Marshall forecast zone and Marshall County — the most common reported hazard around Stephen, mostly in January and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (77 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (73 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blizzards | 83 | Mar 2026 | Apr 5, 1997 · $5.0 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 77 | Jun 2026 | May 5, 2000 · $500,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 73 | Jan 2026 | Mar 8, 2003 · $21,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 64 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 25 | May 2024 | Apr 19, 1997 · $10 million damage |
| High winds | 23 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 16 | Sep 2024 | Jul 4, 2020 · $275,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Feb 2009 | Apr 4, 1997 · $2.0 million 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 West Marshall forecast zone and Marshall County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Stephen get?
A normal year brings about 44 inches of snow to Stephen, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Argyle weather station 8.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (10.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 | 5.5 | 10.9 | 9.0 | 7.2 | 6.7 | 2.7 | 0.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Stephen?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMVX (Grand Forks, ND), about 67 miles south-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 Stephen | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMVX Grand Forks, ND | 67 mi south-southwest | 5,400 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMBX Minot AFB, ND | 183 mi west | 25,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KBIS Bismarck, ND | 215 mi west-southwest | 33,000 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 Stephen
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 63 tornadoes within 25 miles of Stephen, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F2 on June 30, 1955, which passed about 25 miles south-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on July 17, 2020, which passed about 7 miles south of town.
Hail: 172 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 18 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on August 27, 1990.
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 Stephen'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.
Stephen radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Stephen, MN?
KMVX (Grand Forks, ND), about 67 miles south-southwest. KMBX (Minot AFB, ND) is 183 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Stephen?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Stephen the lowest scan from KMVX is about 5,400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Stephen 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 Stephen, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Warren, MN radar 19 mi
- East Grand Forks, MN radar 37 mi
- Thief River Falls, MN radar 40 mi
- Red Lake Falls, MN radar 48 mi
- Crookston, MN radar 48 mi
- Roseau, MN radar 58 mi