Sawyer, ND Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for SawyerWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Sawyer?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 72 days in the Central and Southern Ward/Minot Area forecast zone and Ward County — the most common reported hazard around Sawyer, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (13 days) and flooding (10 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds72Jun 2026Jul 4, 2015 · $200,000 damage
Flash flooding13Jun 2012Jun 22, 2011 · $5.0 million damage
Flooding10Apr 2023May 1, 2011 · $100 million damage
Lightning casualties & damage6Sep 2009Jun 24, 2006 · $125,000 damage
Dust storms1May 2026—
High winds1May 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 Central and Southern Ward/Minot Area forecast zone and Ward County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

How much snow does Sawyer get?

A normal year brings about 41 inches of snow to Sawyer, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Velva weather station 5.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (10.3 in).

OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMay
2.24.89.310.35.35.23.10.8

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

Which radars cover Sawyer?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMBX (Minot AFB, ND), about 23 miles north-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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over SawyerView
KMBX
Minot AFB, ND		23 mi north-northeast1,300 ftExcellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KBIS
Bismarck, ND		92 mi south8,500 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KMVX
Grand Forks, ND		177 mi east-southeast23,900 ftLimited — 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 Sawyer

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 55 tornadoes within 25 miles of Sawyer, 4 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F2 on August 2, 1960, which touched down about 18 miles northwest of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on September 14, 2025, which passed about 25 miles southeast of town.

Hail: 178 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 26 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on June 6, 2004.

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 Sawyer'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.

Sawyer radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Sawyer, ND?

KMBX (Minot AFB, ND), about 23 miles north-northeast. KBIS (Bismarck, ND) is 92 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Sawyer?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Sawyer the lowest scan from KMBX is about 1,300 ft up — excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground.

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

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