The Lakes, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for The Lakes, Murray County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits The Lakes?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 60 days in the Murray forecast zone and Murray County — the most common reported hazard around The Lakes, mostly in December and March. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (48 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (40 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 60 | Nov 2025 | Apr 9, 2013 · $10 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 48 | Jul 2024 | Aug 28, 2021 · $275,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 40 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Blizzards | 37 | Mar 2026 | Apr 11, 2019 · $648,000 damage |
| High winds | 31 | Mar 2026 | Jan 21, 2005 · $100,000 damage |
| Flooding | 22 | Jul 2024 | Jun 1, 2019 · $22 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 18 | Jun 2026 | Jul 15, 2011 · $8,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 7 | Aug 2021 | Jun 15, 2004 · $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 Murray forecast zone and Murray County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does The Lakes get?
A normal year brings about 49 inches of snow to The Lakes, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Tracy weather station 9.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (10.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 5.9 | 10.6 | 8.4 | 8.4 | 8.5 | 6.1 | 0.4 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover The Lakes?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 64 miles west-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 The Lakes | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 64 mi west-southwest | 5,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 116 mi east-northeast | 12,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 164 mi northwest | 21,000 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 The Lakes
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 76 tornadoes within 25 miles of The Lakes, 15 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F5 on June 13, 1968, which passed about 6 miles northwest of town and caused 9 deaths. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on September 23, 2023, which touched down about 25 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 255 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 July 28, 1986.
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 The Lakes'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.
The Lakes radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to The Lakes, MN?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 64 miles west-southwest. KMPX (Minneapolis, MN) is 116 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in The Lakes?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over The Lakes the lowest scan from KFSD is about 5,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for The Lakes 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 The Lakes, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Slayton, MN radar 9 mi
- Tracy, MN radar 10 mi
- Fulda, MN radar 17 mi
- Marshall, MN radar 25 mi
- Tyler, MN radar 26 mi
- Edgerton, MN radar 28 mi
- Windom, MN radar 32 mi
- Pipestone, MN radar 33 mi
- Worthington, MN radar 33 mi
- Cottonwood, MN radar 35 mi