Arnolds Park, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Arnolds Park, Dickinson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Arnolds Park?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 66 days in the Dickinson forecast zone and Dickinson County — the most common reported hazard around Arnolds Park, mostly in March and April. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (66 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (51 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 66 | Jul 2024 | Jun 1, 2019 · $2.6 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 66 | Jun 2026 | Jul 17, 2010 · $500,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 51 | Nov 2025 | Apr 9, 2013 · $10 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 35 | Dec 2025 | — |
| High winds | 34 | Mar 2026 | Apr 7, 2001 · $200,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 30 | Mar 2026 | Nov 10, 1998 · $23,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 24 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 23 | Jun 2024 | — |
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 Dickinson forecast zone and Dickinson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Arnolds Park get?
A normal year brings about 38 inches of snow to Arnolds Park, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Milford 4 Nw weather station 3.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (9.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 3.0 | 8.6 | 8.7 | 9.3 | 5.3 | 2.5 | 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 Arnolds Park?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 82 miles west-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 Arnolds Park | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 82 mi west-northwest | 7,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 129 mi northeast | 14,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 133 mi south-southeast | 15,000 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 Arnolds Park
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 118 tornadoes within 25 miles of Arnolds Park, 29 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F3 on May 5, 1964, which passed about 20 miles southwest of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on August 29, 2024, which touched down about 8 miles north of town.
Hail: 375 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 35 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 29, 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 Arnolds Park'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.
Arnolds Park radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Arnolds Park, IA?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 82 miles west-northwest. KMPX (Minneapolis, MN) is 129 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Arnolds Park?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Arnolds Park the lowest scan from KFSD is about 7,100 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Arnolds Park 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 Arnolds Park, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Milford, IA radar 2 mi
- Spirit Lake, IA radar 4 mi
- Lake Park, IA radar 12 mi
- Spencer, IA radar 15 mi
- Estherville, IA radar 15 mi
- Hartley, IA radar 22 mi
- Emmetsburg, IA radar 28 mi
- Sanborn, IA radar 29 mi
- Sibley, IA radar 31 mi
- Sheldon, IA radar 38 mi