Fort Ransom, ND Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Fort Ransom, Ransom County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Fort Ransom?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 85 days in the Ransom forecast zone and Ransom County — the most common reported hazard around Fort Ransom, mostly in December and March. Next come blizzards (68 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (63 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 85 | Apr 2026 | Nov 27, 2005 · $250,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 68 | Mar 2023 | Apr 5, 1997 · $6.0 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 63 | Jan 2026 | Mar 8, 2003 · $5,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 51 | Jun 2026 | Jul 15, 2007 · $5.2 million damage |
| High winds | 25 | Nov 2021 | Apr 5, 2000 · $100,000 damage |
| Flooding | 24 | Apr 2023 | Apr 3, 1997 · $500,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 17 | Jul 2022 | Jun 20, 2013 · 1 death · $55,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 7 | Dec 2023 | 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 Ransom forecast zone and Ransom County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Fort Ransom get?
A normal year brings about 47 inches of snow to Fort Ransom, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Lisbon weather station 12.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (9.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 | 7.4 | 8.7 | 9.7 | 7.1 | 7.8 | 4.5 | 0.0 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Fort Ransom?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMVX (Grand Forks, ND), about 75 miles north-northeast. 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 Fort Ransom | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMVX Grand Forks, ND | 75 mi north-northeast | 6,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 77 mi south-southwest | 6,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KBIS Bismarck, ND | 135 mi west | 15,400 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 Fort Ransom
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 86 tornadoes within 25 miles of Fort Ransom, 13 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an EF5 on June 20, 2025, which passed about 16 miles east-northeast of town and caused 3 deaths. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 20, 2025, which touched down about 8 miles west of town.
Hail: 232 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 August 24, 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 Fort Ransom'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.
Fort Ransom radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Fort Ransom, ND?
KMVX (Grand Forks, ND), about 75 miles north-northeast. KABR (Aberdeen, SD) is 77 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Fort Ransom?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Fort Ransom the lowest scan from KMVX is about 6,300 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Fort Ransom 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 Fort Ransom, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Lisbon, ND radar 13 mi
- Oakes, ND radar 28 mi
- Valley City, ND radar 28 mi
- Casselton, ND radar 43 mi
- Kindred, ND radar 44 mi
- Jamestown, ND radar 45 mi
- Ellendale, ND radar 46 mi
- Mapleton, ND radar 49 mi
- Horace, ND radar 51 mi
- West Fargo, ND radar 54 mi