Wales, ND Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Wales, Cavalier County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Wales?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged dangerous cold on 84 days in the Cavalier forecast zone and Cavalier County — the most common reported hazard around Wales, mostly in January and February. Next come blizzards (75 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (67 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 84 | Jan 2026 | Mar 8, 2003 · $5,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 75 | Jan 2026 | Apr 5, 1997 · $6.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 67 | Mar 2026 | Nov 6, 2000 · $14,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 51 | Jun 2026 | Jun 9, 2017 · $3.5 million damage |
| High winds | 31 | May 2026 | Oct 31, 1999 · $4,000 damage |
| Flooding | 15 | Apr 2017 | Apr 28, 2013 · 1 death · $5,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 6 | Sep 2024 | Jul 12, 1997 · $260,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | 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 Cavalier forecast zone and Cavalier County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Wales get?
A normal year brings about 47 inches of snow to Wales, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Langdon Exp Farm weather station 14.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (10.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.6 | 8.1 | 10.6 | 8.2 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 4.4 | 1.2 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Wales?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMBX (Minot AFB, ND), about 109 miles west-southwest. 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 Wales | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMBX Minot AFB, ND | 109 mi west-southwest | 11,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMVX Grand Forks, ND | 111 mi south-southeast | 11,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KBIS Bismarck, ND | 178 mi southwest | 24,000 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 Wales
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 30 tornadoes within 25 miles of Wales, 4 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an EF2 on June 9, 2017, which passed about 19 miles east-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on June 14, 2018, which passed about 21 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 126 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 21 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on July 19, 2003.
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 Wales'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.
Wales radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Wales, ND?
KMBX (Minot AFB, ND), about 109 miles west-southwest. KMVX (Grand Forks, ND) is 111 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Wales?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Wales the lowest scan from KMBX is about 11,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Wales 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 Wales, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Langdon, ND radar 14 mi
- Cando, ND radar 39 mi
- Cavalier, ND radar 45 mi
- Rolla, ND radar 46 mi
- Park River, ND radar 52 mi
- Devils Lake, ND radar 55 mi