Gardena, ND Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Gardena, Bottineau County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Gardena?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 64 days in the Bottineau forecast zone and Bottineau County — the most common reported hazard around Gardena, mostly in December and January. Next come blizzards (44 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (41 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 64 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 44 | Dec 2025 | Apr 23, 2022 · $3.0 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 41 | Feb 2025 | Jun 3, 1998 · $75,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 38 | Jun 2026 | Jun 9, 2016 · $5.3 million damage |
| High winds | 36 | May 2026 | May 25, 2010 · $30,000 damage |
| Flooding | 9 | Jun 2014 | Jun 6, 2013 · $525,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 5 | Jun 2009 | Jun 1, 2005 · $625,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 1 | Dec 2010 | — |
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 Bottineau forecast zone and Bottineau County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Gardena get?
A normal year brings about 50 inches of snow to Gardena, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Bottineau weather station 8.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (9.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.1 | 8.2 | 9.0 | 9.1 | 6.9 | 7.3 | 4.0 | 1.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Gardena?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMBX (Minot AFB, ND), about 27 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 Gardena | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMBX Minot AFB, ND | 27 mi southwest | 1,600 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KBIS Bismarck, ND | 134 mi south | 15,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMVX Grand Forks, ND | 167 mi east-southeast | 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 Gardena
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 27 tornadoes within 25 miles of Gardena, 3 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F3 on June 26, 1986, which passed about 5 miles north of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on May 17, 2022, which touched down about 19 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 132 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 16 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on June 14, 2018.
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 Gardena'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.
Gardena radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Gardena, ND?
KMBX (Minot AFB, ND), about 27 miles southwest. KBIS (Bismarck, ND) is 134 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Gardena?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Gardena the lowest scan from KMBX is about 1,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Gardena 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 Gardena, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Bottineau, ND radar 9 mi
- Rugby, ND radar 33 mi
- Rolla, ND radar 42 mi
- Surrey, ND radar 43 mi
- Minot, ND radar 48 mi
- Velva, ND radar 49 mi
- Burlington, ND radar 52 mi
- Cando, ND radar 61 mi