Grafton, ND Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Grafton, Walsh County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Grafton?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged blizzard conditions on 84 days in the Eastern Walsh County forecast zone and Walsh County — the most common reported hazard around Grafton, mostly in January and December. Next come extreme cold & wind chill (71 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (70 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blizzards | 84 | Jan 2026 | Apr 5, 1997 · 1 death · $6.0 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 71 | 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 | Mar 2026 | Nov 6, 2000 · $2,000 damage |
| Flooding | 33 | May 2023 | Apr 27, 2013 · 1 death · $20,000 damage |
| High winds | 25 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 13 | Jul 2020 | Jul 4, 2020 · $300,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | 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 Eastern Walsh County forecast zone and Walsh County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Grafton?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMVX (Grand Forks, ND), about 61 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 Grafton | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMVX Grand Forks, ND | 61 mi south | 4,700 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMBX Minot AFB, ND | 159 mi west | 19,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KBIS Bismarck, ND | 193 mi southwest | 27,600 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 Grafton
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 80 tornadoes within 25 miles of Grafton, 4 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F4 on June 6, 1999, which passed about 21 miles northwest of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on May 15, 2025, which touched down about 23 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 195 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 22 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 Grafton'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.
Grafton radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Grafton, ND?
KMVX (Grand Forks, ND), about 61 miles south. KMBX (Minot AFB, ND) is 159 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Grafton?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Grafton the lowest scan from KMVX is about 4,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Grafton 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 Grafton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Park River, ND radar 16 mi
- Cavalier, ND radar 28 mi
- Larimore, ND radar 36 mi
- Grand Forks, ND radar 37 mi
- Thompson, ND radar 46 mi
- Langdon, ND radar 50 mi