Alta, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Alta, Buena Vista County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Alta?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 66 days in the Buena Vista forecast zone and Buena Vista County — the most common reported hazard around Alta, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (50 days) and flooding (50 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 66 | Jun 2026 | Aug 8, 2010 · $500,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 50 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 50 | Jul 2024 | Jun 21, 2024 · $2.4 million damage |
| High winds | 33 | Mar 2026 | Apr 7, 2001 · $200,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 28 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Excessive heat | 25 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 24 | Mar 2026 | Nov 10, 1998 · $23,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 14 | May 2023 | May 26, 2013 · $500,000 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 Buena Vista forecast zone and Buena Vista County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Alta get?
A normal year brings about 36 inches of snow to Alta, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Galva weather station 13 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (11.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 2.8 | 8.6 | 11.1 | 6.6 | 5.1 | 1.7 | 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 Alta?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 96 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 Alta | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 96 mi northwest | 9,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 104 mi southeast | 10,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 108 mi south-southwest | 10,800 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 Alta
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 96 tornadoes within 25 miles of Alta, 26 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and April. The strongest was an F4 on June 23, 1952, which passed about 17 miles north-northwest of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on May 31, 2024, which touched down about 20 miles east of town.
Hail: 323 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 25 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 19, 1996.
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 Alta'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.
Alta radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Alta, IA?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 96 miles northwest. KDMX (Des Moines, IA) is 104 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Alta?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Alta the lowest scan from KFSD is about 9,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Alta 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 Alta, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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