Zap, ND Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Zap What TALON shows

What weather hits Zap?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 57 days in the Mercer forecast zone and Mercer County — the most common reported hazard around Zap, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (54 days) and high winds (52 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds	57	Jun 2026	Aug 1, 2023 · $3.5 million damage
Heavy snow & winter storms	54	Apr 2026	—
High winds	52	Mar 2026	Jan 13, 2021 · $50,000 damage
Blizzards	36	Apr 2023	Jan 9, 1997 · $1.5 million damage
Extreme cold & wind chill	26	Feb 2025	—
Flooding	8	Apr 2023	Aug 15, 2014 · $3.0 million damage
Flash flooding	4	Jun 2018	Sep 9, 2010 · $45,000 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 Mercer forecast zone and Mercer County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

How much snow does Zap get?

A normal year brings about 33 inches of snow to Zap, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Zap weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually December (6.6 in).

Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May
2.1	3.9	6.6	6.3	5.7	4.8	3.2	0.8

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

Which radars cover Zap?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBIS (Bismarck, ND), about 65 miles east-southeast. 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 Zap	View
KBIS Bismarck, ND	65 mi east-southeast	5,100 ft	Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KMBX Minot AFB, ND	91 mi north-northeast	8,300 ft	Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KABR Aberdeen, SD	210 mi southeast	31,700 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 Zap

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 33 tornadoes within 25 miles of Zap, 3 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F3 on June 18, 1956, which passed about 6 miles east of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on August 30, 2025, which touched down about 11 miles south of town.

Hail: 170 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 29 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.00-inch hail on August 3, 1969.

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 Zap'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.

Zap radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Zap, ND?

KBIS (Bismarck, ND), about 65 miles east-southeast. KMBX (Minot AFB, ND) is 91 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Zap?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Zap the lowest scan from KBIS is about 5,100 ft up.

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

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