Mercer, ND Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Mercer, McLean County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for Mercer What TALON shows

What weather hits Mercer?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 89 days in the Eastern McLean forecast zone and McLean County — the most common reported hazard around Mercer, mostly in July and June. Next come lightning casualties & damage (6 days) and flash flooding (6 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds	89	Jun 2026	Jun 29, 2018 · 1 death · $250,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage	6	Jul 2011	Aug 3, 1996 · $70,000 damage
Flash flooding	6	Jun 2018	Jun 6, 1999 · $300,000 damage
Flooding	5	Aug 2011	Jun 2, 2011 · $5.0 million damage
High winds	2	May 2026	—
Dust storms	1	May 2026	—

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 McLean forecast zone and McLean County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

How much snow does Mercer get?

A normal year brings about 44 inches of snow to Mercer, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Turtle Lake weather station 8.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (10.5 in).

Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May
1.7	8.9	7.9	10.5	6.5	5.7	2.3	0.6

Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.

Which radars cover Mercer?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBIS (Bismarck, ND), about 50 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 Mercer	View
KBIS Bismarck, ND	50 mi south	3,500 ft	Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KMBX Minot AFB, ND	63 mi north	4,900 ft	Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KMVX Grand Forks, ND	158 mi east	19,800 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 Mercer

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 52 tornadoes within 25 miles of Mercer, 4 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F3 on June 5, 1956, which touched down about 24 miles west-northwest of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on September 14, 2025, which passed about 23 miles south of town.

Hail: 148 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 15 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on August 24, 1983.

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 Mercer'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.

Mercer radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Mercer, ND?

KBIS (Bismarck, ND), about 50 miles south. KMBX (Minot AFB, ND) is 63 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Mercer?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Mercer the lowest scan from KBIS is about 3,500 ft up — good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly.

Is TALON's radar for Mercer 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 Mercer, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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