Lawton, ND Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lawton, Ramsey County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lawton?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged dangerous cold on 81 days in the Ramsey forecast zone and Ramsey County — the most common reported hazard around Lawton, mostly in January and February. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (76 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (70 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 81 | Jan 2026 | Mar 8, 2003 · $50,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 76 | Feb 2026 | Nov 6, 2000 · $14,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 70 | Jun 2026 | Aug 11, 2000 · $10 million damage |
| Blizzards | 61 | Dec 2025 | Apr 5, 1997 · $6.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 45 | Aug 2011 | Sep 1, 1999 · $75 million damage |
| High winds | 39 | May 2026 | Nov 1, 1999 · $150,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 14 | Sep 2025 | Sep 20, 2019 · $10 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Feb 2009 | 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 Ramsey forecast zone and Ramsey County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Lawton get?
A normal year brings about 35 inches of snow to Lawton, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Adams 7 Ssw weather station 11.6 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 Lawton?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMVX (Grand Forks, ND), about 72 miles 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 Lawton | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMVX Grand Forks, ND | 72 mi southeast | 5,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMBX Minot AFB, ND | 115 mi west | 11,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KBIS Bismarck, ND | 154 mi southwest | 18,900 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 Lawton
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 66 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lawton, 3 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F2 on June 6, 1999, which passed about 17 miles east of town. The most recent was an EF0 on July 7, 2025, which touched down about 10 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 182 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 18 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on July 20, 1982.
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 Lawton'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.
Lawton radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lawton, ND?
KMVX (Grand Forks, ND), about 72 miles southeast. KMBX (Minot AFB, ND) is 115 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lawton?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lawton the lowest scan from KMVX is about 5,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Lawton 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 Lawton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Devils Lake, ND radar 27 mi
- Park River, ND radar 29 mi
- Langdon, ND radar 32 mi
- Cando, ND radar 40 mi
- Larimore, ND radar 44 mi
- Grafton, ND radar 45 mi
- Cavalier, ND radar 48 mi
- New Rockford, ND radar 56 mi