Lewis, WI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lewis, Polk County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lewis?
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 Lewis, 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 Lewis get?
A normal year brings about 61 inches of snow to Lewis, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Luck weather station 11.2 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 Lewis?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 78 miles north. 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 Lewis | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDLH Duluth, MN | 78 mi north | 6,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 83 mi southwest | 7,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 144 mi south-southeast | 17,000 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 Lewis
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 60 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lewis, 8 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F4 on May 21, 1957, which passed about 23 miles west of town. The most recent was an EF1 on June 18, 2024, which passed about 23 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 181 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 23 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on July 1, 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 Lewis'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.
Lewis radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lewis, WI?
KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 78 miles north. KMPX (Minneapolis, MN) is 83 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lewis?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lewis the lowest scan from KDLH is about 6,600 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Lewis 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 Lewis, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Frederic, WI radar 6 mi
- Luck, WI radar 11 mi
- Grantsburg, WI radar 14 mi
- Cumberland, WI radar 22 mi
- Shell Lake, WI radar 23 mi
- St. Croix Falls, WI radar 24 mi
- Spooner, WI radar 25 mi
- Turtle Lake, WI radar 26 mi
- Amery, WI radar 29 mi
- Osceola, WI radar 31 mi