Williams, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Williams, Lake of the Woods County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Williams?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 73 days in the Lake Of The Woods forecast zone and Lake of the Woods County — the most common reported hazard around Williams, mostly in December and March. Next come extreme cold & wind chill (60 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (37 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 73 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 60 | Jan 2026 | Mar 8, 2003 · $21,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 37 | Jul 2025 | Jul 22, 2013 · $500,000 damage |
| High winds | 9 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 7 | Jun 2002 | Jul 31, 2001 · $150,000 damage |
| Flooding | 5 | Mar 2009 | Jun 10, 2002 · $500,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 4 | Feb 2019 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 2 | Feb 2009 | — |
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 Lake Of The Woods forecast zone and Lake of the Woods County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Williams?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMVX (Grand Forks, ND), about 139 miles 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 Williams | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMVX Grand Forks, ND | 139 mi southwest | 16,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDLH Duluth, MN | 184 mi southeast | 25,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMBX Minot AFB, ND | 271 mi west | 49,400 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 Williams
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 26 tornadoes within 25 miles of Williams, 3 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F3 on August 5, 2006, which passed about 18 miles west-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on July 4, 2025, which passed about 20 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 76 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 14 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on August 5, 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 Williams'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.
Williams radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Williams, MN?
KMVX (Grand Forks, ND), about 139 miles southwest. KDLH (Duluth, MN) is 184 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Williams?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Williams the lowest scan from KMVX is about 16,100 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Williams 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 Williams, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Warroad, MN radar 20 mi
- Roseau, MN radar 37 mi