Waterville, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Waterville, Le Sueur County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Waterville?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 83 days in the Le Sueur forecast zone and Le Sueur County — the most common reported hazard around Waterville, mostly in March and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (47 days) and blizzards (20 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 83 | Nov 2025 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 47 | Jul 2025 | Jun 14, 2016 · $100,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 20 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 20 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 12 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 12 | Mar 2019 | Jun 18, 2014 · $1.1 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 12 | Aug 2023 | — |
| Flash flooding | 10 | Jul 2020 | Jun 19, 2014 · $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 Le Sueur forecast zone and Le Sueur County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Waterville get?
A normal year brings about 52 inches of snow to Waterville, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Waseca S Rsch & Outreach Ctr weather station 10.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (11.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.7 | 5.8 | 11.9 | 10.7 | 10.8 | 9.0 | 3.0 | 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 Waterville?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 43 miles north. 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 Waterville | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 43 mi north | 2,900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 122 mi east-southeast | 13,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 163 mi west-southwest | 20,800 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 Waterville
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 121 tornadoes within 25 miles of Waterville, 25 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F4 on April 30, 1967, which passed about 8 miles south-southeast of town and caused 6 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on April 28, 2025, which touched down about 9 miles east of town.
Hail: 349 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 35 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on June 25, 2010.
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 Waterville'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.
Waterville radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Waterville, MN?
KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 43 miles north. KARX (La Crosse, WI) is 122 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Waterville?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Waterville the lowest scan from KMPX is about 2,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Waterville 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 Waterville, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Morristown, MN radar 6 mi
- Janesville, MN radar 10 mi
- Waseca, MN radar 10 mi
- Madison Lake, MN radar 12 mi
- Le Center, MN radar 14 mi
- Montgomery, MN radar 15 mi
- Faribault, MN radar 15 mi
- Eagle Lake, MN radar 16 mi
- Medford, MN radar 17 mi
- Lonsdale, MN radar 19 mi