Tower, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Tower, St. Louis County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Tower?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 155 days in the Central St. Louis forecast zone and St. Louis County — the most common reported hazard around Tower, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (103 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (76 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 155 | Jun 2026 | Jul 19, 2021 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 103 | Apr 2026 | Nov 11, 2021 · 2 deaths |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 76 | Jan 2026 | Jan 12, 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 | 11 | Jun 2024 | Jul 1, 2022 · $1.4 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Dec 2016 | — |
| Wildfires | 4 | Jun 2025 | May 12, 2025 · $13 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 Central St. Louis forecast zone and St. Louis County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Tower get?
A normal year brings about 69 inches of snow to Tower, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Tower 2S weather station 2.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (14.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 | 11.0 | 14.8 | 13.4 | 10.8 | 7.9 | 8.0 | 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 Tower?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 68 miles south. 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 Tower | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDLH Duluth, MN | 68 mi south | 5,400 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 214 mi south-southwest | 32,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMVX Grand Forks, ND | 236 mi west | 38,700 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 Tower
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 13 tornadoes within 25 miles of Tower, 7 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and June. The strongest was an F3 on August 6, 1969, which passed about 20 miles west-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on July 7, 2024, which touched down about 3 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 76 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 6 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on July 16, 2006.
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 Tower'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.
Tower radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Tower, MN?
KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 68 miles south. KMPX (Minneapolis, MN) is 214 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Tower?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Tower the lowest scan from KDLH is about 5,400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Tower 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 Tower, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Hoyt Lakes, MN radar 19 mi
- Aurora, MN radar 20 mi
- Babbitt, MN radar 20 mi
- Ely, MN radar 21 mi
- Virginia, MN radar 23 mi
- Gilbert, MN radar 24 mi
- Mountain Iron, MN radar 25 mi
- Eveleth, MN radar 27 mi
- Chisholm, MN radar 36 mi
- Hibbing, MN radar 43 mi