Balsam Lake, WI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Balsam Lake, Polk County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Balsam Lake?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 91 days in the Polk forecast zone and Polk County — the most common reported hazard around Balsam Lake, mostly in March and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (75 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (18 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 91 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 75 | Jun 2026 | Sep 12, 2005 · $4.1 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 18 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 10 | Aug 2023 | — |
| Flash flooding | 7 | Sep 2015 | Sep 1, 2002 · $400,000 damage |
| Flooding | 4 | Mar 2019 | Mar 15, 2019 · $18,000 damage |
| High winds | 2 | Oct 2010 | Oct 26, 2010 · $25,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 1 | Jan 1996 | — |
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 Polk forecast zone and Polk County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Balsam Lake get?
A normal year brings about 61 inches of snow to Balsam Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Luck weather station 7.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (15.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 | 8.4 | 15.3 | 9.8 | 12.6 | 9.0 | 4.6 | 0.2 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Balsam Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 69 miles 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 Balsam Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 69 mi southwest | 5,600 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDLH Duluth, MN | 96 mi north | 9,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 129 mi south-southeast | 14,300 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 Balsam Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 76 tornadoes within 25 miles of Balsam Lake, 11 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F4 on May 21, 1957, which passed about 22 miles west-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on June 18, 2024, which passed about 6 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 199 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 25 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on May 16, 2017.
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 Balsam Lake'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.
Balsam Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Balsam Lake, WI?
KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 69 miles southwest. KDLH (Duluth, MN) is 96 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Balsam Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Balsam Lake the lowest scan from KMPX is about 5,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Balsam Lake 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 Balsam Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Luck, WI radar 8 mi
- St. Croix Falls, WI radar 9 mi
- Amery, WI radar 12 mi
- Frederic, WI radar 13 mi
- Turtle Lake, WI radar 15 mi
- Osceola, WI radar 16 mi
- Clear Lake, WI radar 17 mi
- Cumberland, WI radar 21 mi
- New Richmond, WI radar 24 mi
- Grantsburg, WI radar 25 mi