Algona, IA Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for AlgonaWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Algona?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 84 days in the Kossuth forecast zone and Kossuth County — the most common reported hazard around Algona, mostly in June and July. Next come flooding (61 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (61 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds84Jul 2025May 15, 1998 · $550,000 damage
Flooding61Jul 2024Jun 12, 2010 · $40 million damage
Heavy snow & winter storms61Jan 2024Feb 24, 2007 · $250,000 damage
High winds49Mar 2025Nov 10, 1998 · $305,000 damage
Blizzards39Mar 2025Jan 25, 2010 · 1 death · $75,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill27Jan 2025Sep 21, 1999 · $294,000 damage
Flash flooding18Jun 2024Jul 9, 2000 · $800,000 damage
Ice storms & sleet14Jan 2023Feb 20, 2011 · $50,000 damage

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 Kossuth forecast zone and Kossuth County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Algona?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 97 miles south-southeast. 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over AlgonaView
KDMX
Des Moines, IA		97 mi south-southeast9,100 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KMPX
Minneapolis, MN		127 mi north-northeast13,900 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KFSD
Sioux Falls, SD		130 mi west-northwest14,500 ftLimited — 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 Algona

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 97 tornadoes within 25 miles of Algona, 29 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F4 on August 29, 1964, which passed about 6 miles east-southeast of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on July 28, 2025, which touched down about 21 miles east-northeast of town.

Hail: 319 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 46 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.50-inch hail on August 26, 2004.

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 Algona'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.

Algona radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Algona, IA?

KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 97 miles south-southeast. KMPX (Minneapolis, MN) is 127 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Algona?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Algona the lowest scan from KDMX is about 9,100 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.

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

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