Fairdale, ND Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Fairdale, Walsh County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Fairdale?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged dangerous cold on 78 days in the Western Walsh County forecast zone and Walsh County — the most common reported hazard around Fairdale, mostly in January and February. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (70 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (66 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 78 | Jan 2026 | Mar 8, 2003 · $5,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 70 | Jun 2026 | Jul 2, 2003 · $750,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 66 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Blizzards | 49 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 25 | May 2023 | Apr 27, 2013 · 1 death · $20,000 damage |
| High winds | 21 | Oct 2024 | — |
| Flash flooding | 13 | Jul 2020 | Jul 4, 2020 · $300,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 3 | Dec 2023 | May 11, 2004 · $400,000 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 Western Walsh County forecast zone and Walsh County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Fairdale get?
A normal year brings about 35 inches of snow to Fairdale, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Adams 7 Ssw weather station 12.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (8.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.7 | 6.0 | 8.9 | 5.7 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 2.7 | 0.5 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Fairdale?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMVX (Grand Forks, ND), about 79 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 Fairdale | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMVX Grand Forks, ND | 79 mi south-southeast | 6,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMBX Minot AFB, ND | 121 mi west | 12,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KBIS Bismarck, ND | 167 mi southwest | 21,700 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 Fairdale
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 66 tornadoes within 25 miles of Fairdale, 7 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F4 on June 6, 1999, which passed about 22 miles east-northeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on July 7, 2025, which touched down about 10 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 198 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 24 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on July 19, 2003.
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 Fairdale'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.
Fairdale radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Fairdale, ND?
KMVX (Grand Forks, ND), about 79 miles south-southeast. KMBX (Minot AFB, ND) is 121 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Fairdale?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Fairdale the lowest scan from KMVX is about 6,700 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Fairdale 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 Fairdale, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Langdon, ND radar 20 mi
- Park River, ND radar 23 mi
- Cavalier, ND radar 35 mi
- Grafton, ND radar 38 mi
- Devils Lake, ND radar 39 mi
- Cando, ND radar 45 mi
- Larimore, ND radar 49 mi