Winter, WI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Winter, Sawyer County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Winter?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 97 days in the Sawyer forecast zone and Sawyer County — the most common reported hazard around Winter, mostly in December and February. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (66 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (18 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 97 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 66 | Jun 2026 | Jun 17, 2018 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 18 | Jan 2026 | Jan 13, 2009 · 1 death |
| Ice storms & sleet | 9 | Apr 2026 | Mar 1, 2022 · $100,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 8 | Jun 2024 | May 27, 2020 · $3,000 damage |
| Flooding | 6 | Aug 2025 | Apr 12, 2023 · $300,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 4 | Aug 2021 | May 25, 2008 · $200,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 2 | Jul 2016 | — |
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 Sawyer forecast zone and Sawyer County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Winter get?
A normal year brings about 57 inches of snow to Winter, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Winter weather station 1.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (14.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.9 | 7.9 | 14.0 | 10.7 | 10.2 | 9.3 | 4.2 | 0.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Winter?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 90 miles northwest. 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 Winter | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDLH Duluth, MN | 90 mi northwest | 8,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 138 mi south | 16,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 141 mi west-southwest | 16,400 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 Winter
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 12 tornadoes within 25 miles of Winter, 4 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and September. The strongest was an F3 on September 2, 2002, which passed about 24 miles south of town. The most recent was an EF1 on May 22, 2011, which passed about 18 miles east of town.
Hail: 90 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 14 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on August 2, 2015.
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 Winter'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.
Winter radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Winter, WI?
KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 90 miles northwest. KARX (La Crosse, WI) is 138 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Winter?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Winter the lowest scan from KDLH is about 8,300 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Winter 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 Winter, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Ladysmith, WI radar 25 mi
- Hayward, WI radar 26 mi
- Park Falls, WI radar 28 mi
- Phillips, WI radar 31 mi
- Spooner, WI radar 42 mi
- Rice Lake, WI radar 42 mi
- Shell Lake, WI radar 44 mi
- Cameron, WI radar 46 mi
- Cornell, WI radar 46 mi
- Chetek, WI radar 47 mi