Turtle Lake, WI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Turtle Lake, Barron County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Turtle Lake?
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 Turtle Lake, 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 Turtle Lake get?
A normal year brings about 56 inches of snow to Turtle Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Cumberland weather station 11.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (11.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.7 | 7.1 | 11.6 | 11.4 | 10.6 | 9.2 | 4.6 | 0.4 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Turtle Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 79 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 Turtle Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 79 mi west-southwest | 6,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDLH Duluth, MN | 100 mi north | 9,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 118 mi south-southeast | 12,400 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 Turtle Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 76 tornadoes within 25 miles of Turtle Lake, 14 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F3 on June 23, 1952, which passed about 16 miles northwest of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on June 18, 2024, which passed about 20 miles west of town.
Hail: 196 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 34 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 Turtle 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.
Turtle Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Turtle Lake, WI?
KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 79 miles west-southwest. KDLH (Duluth, MN) is 100 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Turtle Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Turtle Lake the lowest scan from KMPX is about 6,700 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Turtle 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 Turtle Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Clear Lake, WI radar 11 mi
- Cumberland, WI radar 12 mi
- Amery, WI radar 12 mi
- Barron, WI radar 15 mi
- Luck, WI radar 20 mi
- Cameron, WI radar 20 mi
- Rice Lake, WI radar 21 mi
- St. Croix Falls, WI radar 23 mi
- Glenwood City, WI radar 23 mi
- Frederic, WI radar 24 mi