Fargo, ND Live Doppler Radar
Watch storms move over Fargo in real time — every NWS radar combined, storm tracks, official warnings, and the closest radar's full 250 m detail.
Which radars cover Fargo?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar to Fargo, ND is KMVX (Grand Forks), about 52 miles to the north-northwest. Radar beams climb as they travel because the Earth curves away underneath them, so the height of the lowest scan over a city decides how much of a storm's base the radar can see.
| Radar | Distance | Lowest beam over Fargo | View of low-level rotation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMVX Grand Forks, ND | 52 mi north-northwest | 3,700 ft | Good — low-level rotation is usually visible |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 125 mi southwest | 13,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KBIS Bismarck, ND | 188 mi west | 26,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
Beam height is the center of the 0.5° scan above the radar, using standard atmospheric refraction. Hills and buildings near the radar can block it further.
On TALON you get Fargo's live radar loop, storm tracks with arrival times and NWS warnings free; close-up radar and rotation detection are part of TALON Pro.
Tornado & hail history near Fargo
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 110 tornadoes within 25 miles of Fargo, 18 of them rated EF2/F2 or stronger. They have been most common in July and June. The strongest was an F5 on June 20, 1957, which crossed near the city center and caused 10 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on June 20, 2025, which passed about 19 miles north-northwest of the city.
Hail: 350 reports of hail 1 inch or larger within 25 miles of Fargo since 1955, 45 of them 2 inches or larger. The largest was 4.00-inch hail (softball size) on July 5, 1978.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 110 |
| EF2/F2 or stronger | 18 |
| Strongest tornado | F5 · Jun 1957 |
| Busiest tornado month | July |
| Largest hail | 4.00 in · Jul 1978 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database — tornadoes 1950–2025, hail 1955–2025 (the latest year is preliminary). Distances are to each tornado's recorded track; ratings before February 2007 use the original Fujita (F) scale.
Fargo radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Fargo?
KMVX near Grand Forks, ND, about 52 miles away. A second radar, KABR (Aberdeen), is 125 miles away and also covers the area.
Can radar see a tornado over Fargo?
Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it can see the rotating storm and, once a tornado is lofting debris, a debris signature. Over Fargo the lowest scan from KMVX is roughly 3,700 ft up. Good — low-level rotation is usually visible. TALON combines that with NOAA's ProbSevere model to flag storms most likely to produce tornadoes.
How often do tornadoes hit Fargo?
NOAA records show 110 tornadoes within 25 miles of Fargo since 1950 — about 1.4 a year on average, most often in July and June. Most were weak, but 18 were EF2/F2 or stronger.
Should I rely on radar for my safety?
No app replaces official warnings. When the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning for Fargo, take shelter right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby cities
- Minneapolis, MN radar 214 mi
- Sioux Falls, SD radar 230 mi