Dresser, WI Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Dresser What TALON shows

What weather hits Dresser?

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 Dresser, 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 Dresser get?

A normal year brings about 43 inches of snow to Dresser, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the St Croix Falls weather station 3.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (10.9 in).

Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May
0.8	6.7	10.9	7.7	9.6	5.7	1.2	0.0

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

Which radars cover Dresser?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 58 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 Dresser	View
KMPX Minneapolis, MN	58 mi southwest	4,300 ft	Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KDLH Duluth, MN	104 mi north	10,200 ft	Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KARX La Crosse, WI	128 mi southeast	14,100 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 Dresser

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 82 tornadoes within 25 miles of Dresser, 15 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and May. The strongest was an F4 on May 21, 1957, which passed about 19 miles northwest of town. The most recent was an EF2 on May 15, 2025, which passed about 22 miles south-southeast of town.

Hail: 212 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 31 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on May 1, 2001.

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 Dresser'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.

Dresser radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Dresser, WI?

KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 58 miles southwest. KDLH (Duluth, MN) is 104 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Dresser?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Dresser the lowest scan from KMPX is about 4,300 ft up.

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

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