Watford City, ND Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Watford City, McKenzie County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Watford City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 74 days in the McKenzie forecast zone and McKenzie County — the most common reported hazard around Watford City, mostly in July and June. Next come high winds (56 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (49 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 74 | Jun 2026 | Jun 30, 2015 · $250,000 damage |
| High winds | 56 | May 2026 | Oct 31, 1999 · $7.2 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 49 | Mar 2024 | Apr 18, 2006 · $150,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 35 | Dec 2025 | Apr 12, 2022 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 25 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 8 | Mar 2019 | Mar 21, 2019 · $4.0 million damage |
| Wildfires | 2 | Oct 2024 | Oct 5, 2024 · $12 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 1 | Jul 2011 | — |
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 McKenzie forecast zone and McKenzie County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Watford City get?
A normal year brings about 50 inches of snow to Watford City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Watford City weather station 1.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (10.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.9 | 6.8 | 10.1 | 9.5 | 8.2 | 7.3 | 4.2 | 1.4 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Watford City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMBX (Minot AFB, ND), about 118 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 Watford City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMBX Minot AFB, ND | 118 mi east-northeast | 12,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KBIS Bismarck, ND | 137 mi east-southeast | 15,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KGGW Glasgow, MT | 158 mi west-northwest | 19,700 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 Watford City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 17 tornadoes within 25 miles of Watford City, 3 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an EF2 on July 9, 2018, which touched down about 2 miles south-southwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on September 17, 2025, which touched down about 9 miles west of town.
Hail: 111 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 16 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on September 4, 1996.
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 Watford City'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.
Watford City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Watford City, ND?
KMBX (Minot AFB, ND), about 118 miles east-northeast. KBIS (Bismarck, ND) is 137 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Watford City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Watford City the lowest scan from KMBX is about 12,400 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Watford City 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 Watford City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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