Drayton, ND Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Drayton, Pembina County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Drayton?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged blizzard conditions on 87 days in the Pembina forecast zone and Pembina County — the most common reported hazard around Drayton, mostly in January and December. Next come extreme cold & wind chill (75 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (71 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blizzards | 87 | Jan 2026 | Jan 26, 2014 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 75 | Jan 2026 | Mar 8, 2003 · $50,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 71 | Mar 2026 | Nov 6, 2000 · $2,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 59 | Jun 2026 | Jun 19, 2005 · $2.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 37 | May 2023 | Apr 21, 1997 · $20 million damage |
| High winds | 23 | Feb 2025 | Nov 1, 1999 · $40,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 13 | Jun 2023 | Sep 20, 2019 · $10 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Feb 2009 | Apr 4, 1997 · $6.0 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 Pembina forecast zone and Pembina County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Drayton?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMVX (Grand Forks, ND), about 72 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 Drayton | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMVX Grand Forks, ND | 72 mi south | 5,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMBX Minot AFB, ND | 169 mi west | 22,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KBIS Bismarck, ND | 208 mi southwest | 31,100 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 Drayton
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 72 tornadoes within 25 miles of Drayton, 4 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an EF2 on September 19, 2014, which passed about 22 miles north-northeast of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on May 15, 2025, which touched down about 23 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 196 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 23 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on August 27, 1990.
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 Drayton'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.
Drayton radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Drayton, ND?
KMVX (Grand Forks, ND), about 72 miles south. KMBX (Minot AFB, ND) is 169 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Drayton?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Drayton the lowest scan from KMVX is about 5,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Drayton 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 Drayton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Grafton, ND radar 15 mi
- Cavalier, ND radar 26 mi
- Park River, ND radar 28 mi
- Grand Forks, ND radar 45 mi
- Larimore, ND radar 50 mi
- Thompson, ND radar 55 mi
- Langdon, ND radar 56 mi