Alta Vista, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Alta Vista, Chickasaw County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Alta Vista?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 60 days in the Chickasaw forecast zone and Chickasaw County — the most common reported hazard around Alta Vista, mostly in January and February. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (50 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (32 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 60 | Feb 2026 | Feb 23, 2007 · $100,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 50 | Aug 2024 | Jun 29, 2014 · $1.5 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 32 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 26 | Aug 2025 | Aug 24, 2016 · 1 death · $10,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 20 | Mar 2026 | — |
| High winds | 15 | Mar 2026 | Nov 10, 1998 · $150,000 damage |
| Flooding | 15 | Aug 2025 | Aug 28, 2021 · $3.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 12 | Jun 2026 | Jul 17, 2011 · $33,000 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 Chickasaw forecast zone and Chickasaw County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Alta Vista get?
A normal year brings about 39 inches of snow to Alta Vista, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the New Hampton weather station 11.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (10.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 2.9 | 7.9 | 9.7 | 10.3 | 6.2 | 1.4 | 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 Vista?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 75 miles northeast. 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 Vista | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 75 mi northeast | 6,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 121 mi southwest | 12,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 128 mi north-northwest | 14,000 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 Vista
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 112 tornadoes within 25 miles of Alta Vista, 28 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F5 on May 15, 1968, which passed about 9 miles northwest of town and caused 13 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on May 9, 2024, which touched down about 17 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 266 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 32 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.75-inch hail on June 8, 1993.
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 Vista'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 Vista radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Alta Vista, IA?
KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 75 miles northeast. KDMX (Des Moines, IA) is 121 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Alta Vista?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Alta Vista the lowest scan from KARX is about 6,300 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Alta Vista 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 Vista, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- New Hampton, IA radar 11 mi
- Charles City, IA radar 16 mi
- Nashua, IA radar 18 mi
- Cresco, IA radar 19 mi
- Osage, IA radar 21 mi
- Calmar, IA radar 28 mi
- Tripoli, IA radar 28 mi
- St. Ansgar, IA radar 28 mi
- Sumner, IA radar 29 mi
- Nora Springs, IA radar 30 mi