Cottage Grove, WI Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Cottage GroveWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Cottage Grove?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 174 days in the Dane forecast zone and Dane County — the most common reported hazard around Cottage Grove, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (69 days) and excessive heat (47 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds174Jun 2026Sep 19, 2013 · $7.0 million damage
Heavy snow & winter storms69Nov 2025Feb 23, 2007 · 1 death · $20,000 damage
Excessive heat47Jun 2026Jul 2, 2012 · 1 death
Lightning casualties & damage41Apr 2026Aug 22, 2007 · 3 deaths · $10,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill38Jan 2026Dec 25, 2017 · 3 deaths
Flooding34Apr 2026Aug 20, 2018 · $33 million damage
Flash flooding34Jul 2024Aug 20, 2018 · 1 death · $1.0 million damage
High winds11Mar 2026Nov 10, 1998 · 1 death · $750,000 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 Dane forecast zone and Dane County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

How much snow does Cottage Grove get?

A normal year brings about 52 inches of snow to Cottage Grove, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Madison Dane Rgnl Ap weather station 7.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (13.7 in).

OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMay
0.63.012.013.712.87.02.60.1

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

Which radars cover Cottage Grove?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI), about 34 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over Cottage GroveView
KMKX
Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI		34 mi east-southeast2,200 ftExcellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KGRB
Green Bay, WI		111 mi north-northeast11,400 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KARX
La Crosse, WI		112 mi west-northwest11,400 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 Cottage Grove

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 137 tornadoes within 25 miles of Cottage Grove, 33 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F5 on June 7, 1984, which passed about 21 miles northwest of town and caused 9 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on May 15, 2025, which passed about 24 miles northeast of town.

Hail: 446 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 63 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on May 11, 2011.

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 Cottage Grove'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.

Cottage Grove radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Cottage Grove, WI?

KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI), about 34 miles east-southeast. KGRB (Green Bay, WI) is 111 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Cottage Grove?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Cottage Grove the lowest scan from KMKX is about 2,200 ft up.

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

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