Prairie Farm, WI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Prairie Farm, Barron County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Prairie Farm?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 81 days in the Barron forecast zone and Barron County — the most common reported hazard around Prairie Farm, mostly in December and March. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (67 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (21 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 81 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 67 | May 2025 | Jun 11, 2017 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 21 | Jan 2026 | Jan 1, 2018 · 1 death |
| Excessive heat | 8 | Jul 2012 | Jul 1, 2012 · 2 deaths |
| Flash flooding | 8 | Sep 2015 | Oct 4, 2005 · $225,000 damage |
| High winds | 4 | Jun 2014 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Sep 1997 | — |
| Blizzards | 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 Barron forecast zone and Barron County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Prairie Farm get?
A normal year brings about 51 inches of snow to Prairie Farm, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Ridgeland 1Nne weather station 4.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (11.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.6 | 4.1 | 11.2 | 9.5 | 11.4 | 10.9 | 3.3 | 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 Prairie Farm?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 82 miles west-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 Prairie Farm | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 82 mi west-southwest | 7,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 105 mi south-southeast | 10,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDLH Duluth, MN | 111 mi north | 11,300 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 Prairie Farm
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 71 tornadoes within 25 miles of Prairie Farm, 17 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F5 on June 4, 1958, which passed about 17 miles south-southeast of town and caused 21 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on August 29, 2024, which touched down about 23 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 189 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 31 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.50-inch hail on July 23, 1965.
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 Prairie Farm'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.
Prairie Farm radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Prairie Farm, WI?
KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 82 miles west-southwest. KARX (La Crosse, WI) is 105 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Prairie Farm?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Prairie Farm the lowest scan from KMPX is about 7,100 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Prairie Farm 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 Prairie Farm, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Cameron, WI radar 16 mi
- Chetek, WI radar 17 mi
- Amery, WI radar 19 mi
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