Plaza, ND Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Plaza, Mountrail County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Plaza?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 63 days in the Mountrail forecast zone and Mountrail County — the most common reported hazard around Plaza, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (58 days) and high winds (52 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 63 | Jun 2026 | Aug 1, 2023 · $600,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 58 | Feb 2026 | — |
| High winds | 52 | May 2026 | Jan 13, 2021 · $80,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 37 | Dec 2025 | Apr 23, 2022 · $10 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 32 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 9 | Apr 2023 | Jun 28, 2014 · $354,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 7 | Jul 2013 | Jun 19, 2011 · $100,000 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 Mountrail forecast zone and Mountrail County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Plaza?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMBX (Minot AFB, ND), about 56 miles east-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 Plaza | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMBX Minot AFB, ND | 56 mi east-northeast | 4,200 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KBIS Bismarck, ND | 103 mi south-southeast | 10,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KGGW Glasgow, MT | 216 mi west | 33,200 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 Plaza
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 36 tornadoes within 25 miles of Plaza, 4 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F2 on June 30, 1958, which touched down about 7 miles west-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on July 6, 2024, which touched down about 23 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 139 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 11 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on August 6, 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 Plaza'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.
Plaza radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Plaza, ND?
KMBX (Minot AFB, ND), about 56 miles east-northeast. KBIS (Bismarck, ND) is 103 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Plaza?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Plaza the lowest scan from KMBX is about 4,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Plaza 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 Plaza, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- New Town, ND radar 25 mi
- Stanley, ND radar 28 mi
- Burlington, ND radar 30 mi
- Minot, ND radar 35 mi
- Garrison, ND radar 36 mi
- Surrey, ND radar 41 mi
- Velva, ND radar 47 mi
- Tioga, ND radar 52 mi
- Hazen, ND radar 53 mi
- Beulah, ND radar 53 mi