Wood Lake, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Wood Lake, Yellow Medicine County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Wood Lake?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 76 days in the Yellow Medicine forecast zone and Yellow Medicine County — the most common reported hazard around Wood Lake, mostly in March and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (47 days) and blizzards (40 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 76 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 47 | Jun 2026 | Aug 8, 2020 · $1.8 million damage |
| Blizzards | 40 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 36 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 18 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 14 | Aug 2023 | Aug 4, 2001 · 5 deaths |
| Flooding | 9 | Mar 2019 | Mar 16, 2010 · $420,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 5 | Jun 2025 | Jun 18, 2014 · $5,000 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 Yellow Medicine forecast zone and Yellow Medicine County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Wood Lake get?
A normal year brings about 52 inches of snow to Wood Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Granite Falls weather station 11.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (11.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 | 6.6 | 11.1 | 9.4 | 11.7 | 7.9 | 3.9 | 0.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Wood Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 94 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 Wood Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 94 mi southwest | 8,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 98 mi east | 9,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 151 mi west-northwest | 18,400 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 Wood Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 76 tornadoes within 25 miles of Wood Lake, 18 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F5 on June 13, 1968, which passed about 24 miles south of town and caused 9 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on June 2, 2024, which touched down about 10 miles east-northeast of town.
Hail: 266 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 37 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 28, 1991.
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 Wood Lake'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.
Wood Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Wood Lake, MN?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 94 miles southwest. KMPX (Minneapolis, MN) is 98 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Wood Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Wood Lake the lowest scan from KFSD is about 8,800 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Wood Lake 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 Wood Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Cottonwood, MN radar 7 mi
- Granite Falls, MN radar 11 mi
- Marshall, MN radar 19 mi
- Renville, MN radar 19 mi
- Montevideo, MN radar 22 mi
- Redwood Falls, MN radar 23 mi
- Clara City, MN radar 23 mi
- Minneota, MN radar 23 mi
- Olivia, MN radar 28 mi
- Tracy, MN radar 29 mi