Raleigh, ND Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Raleigh, Grant County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Raleigh?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged high winds on 65 days in the Grant forecast zone and Grant County — the most common reported hazard around Raleigh, mostly in October and March. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (56 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (47 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| High winds | 65 | Mar 2026 | Jan 13, 2021 · $75,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 56 | Apr 2026 | Apr 2, 2010 · $11 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 47 | Jun 2026 | May 16, 1996 · $1.5 million damage |
| Blizzards | 33 | Apr 2023 | Jan 9, 1997 · $1.5 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 23 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 5 | Apr 2009 | Mar 6, 2009 · $342,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 4 | Jun 2021 | Jun 8, 2021 · $150,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 2 | Jul 2006 | — |
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 Grant forecast zone and Grant County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Raleigh get?
A normal year brings about 47 inches of snow to Raleigh, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Shields weather station 12 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (9.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 | 7.8 | 9.8 | 8.2 | 6.9 | 8.4 | 2.7 | 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 Raleigh?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBIS (Bismarck, ND), about 39 miles 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 Raleigh | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBIS Bismarck, ND | 39 mi northeast | 2,500 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KMBX Minot AFB, ND | 142 mi north | 16,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 152 mi east-southeast | 18,600 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 Raleigh
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 24 tornadoes within 25 miles of Raleigh, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F4 on July 4, 1978, which passed about 3 miles north-northwest of town and caused 5 deaths. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 28, 2020, which touched down about 13 miles east of town.
Hail: 139 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 23 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on July 7, 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 Raleigh'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.
Raleigh radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Raleigh, ND?
KBIS (Bismarck, ND), about 39 miles northeast. KMBX (Minot AFB, ND) is 142 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Raleigh?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Raleigh the lowest scan from KBIS is about 2,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Raleigh 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 Raleigh, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- New Salem, ND radar 34 mi
- Mandan, ND radar 38 mi
- Lincoln, ND radar 41 mi
- Bismarck, ND radar 41 mi
- Linton, ND radar 52 mi