Verndale, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Verndale, Wadena County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Verndale?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 80 days in the Wadena forecast zone and Wadena County — the most common reported hazard around Verndale, mostly in December and March. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (55 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (49 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 80 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 55 | Jun 2026 | Sep 25, 1998 · $500,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 49 | Jan 2026 | Mar 8, 2003 · $21,000 damage |
| High winds | 10 | Feb 2025 | Jun 11, 2008 · $150,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 9 | Jun 2018 | Jun 17, 2018 · $85,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 7 | Mar 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 4 | Sep 2014 | May 27, 2012 · $55,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 3 | Dec 2016 | — |
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 Wadena forecast zone and Wadena County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Verndale get?
A normal year brings about 51 inches of snow to Verndale, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Wadena 3 S weather station 6.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (12.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | 7.5 | 8.7 | 12.2 | 7.9 | 8.9 | 4.5 | 0.0 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Verndale?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 128 miles south-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 Verndale | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 128 mi south-southeast | 14,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMVX Grand Forks, ND | 134 mi northwest | 15,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDLH Duluth, MN | 136 mi east-northeast | 15,600 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 Verndale
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 64 tornadoes within 25 miles of Verndale, 17 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an EF4 on June 17, 2010, which passed about 15 miles west-northwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on June 16, 2025, which passed about 22 miles east of town.
Hail: 262 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 29 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on July 8, 2000.
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 Verndale'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.
Verndale radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Verndale, MN?
KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 128 miles south-southeast. KMVX (Grand Forks, ND) is 134 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Verndale?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Verndale the lowest scan from KMPX is about 14,100 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Verndale 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 Verndale, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Wadena, MN radar 6 mi
- Staples, MN radar 10 mi
- New York Mills, MN radar 19 mi
- Parkers Prairie, MN radar 23 mi
- Menahga, MN radar 25 mi
- Long Prairie, MN radar 30 mi
- Perham, MN radar 30 mi
- East Gull Lake, MN radar 31 mi
- Lake Shore, MN radar 32 mi
- Nisswa, MN radar 35 mi