Ashton, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Ashton, Osceola County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Ashton?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 51 days in the Osceola forecast zone and Osceola County — the most common reported hazard around Ashton, mostly in January and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (47 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (35 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 51 | Nov 2025 | Apr 9, 2013 · $10 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 47 | Jun 2026 | Jun 13, 2001 · $200,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 35 | Dec 2025 | — |
| High winds | 29 | Mar 2026 | Apr 7, 2001 · $100,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 28 | Mar 2026 | Nov 10, 1998 · $23,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 25 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 8 | Jun 2024 | Jun 1, 2019 · $3.6 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Dec 2022 | Apr 10, 2019 · $112,000 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 Osceola forecast zone and Osceola County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Ashton get?
A normal year brings about 42 inches of snow to Ashton, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Sibley weather station 6.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (9.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | 5.1 | 9.1 | 8.1 | 7.4 | 7.0 | 3.7 | 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 Ashton?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 51 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 Ashton | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 51 mi west-northwest | 3,600 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 141 mi south-southwest | 16,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 152 mi southeast | 18,500 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 Ashton
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 148 tornadoes within 25 miles of Ashton, 28 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an EF4 on June 25, 2010, which passed about 6 miles north-northeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on July 28, 2025, which touched down about 23 miles west of town.
Hail: 379 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 38 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on July 9, 2009.
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 Ashton'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.
Ashton radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Ashton, IA?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 51 miles west-northwest. KOAX (Omaha, NE) is 141 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Ashton?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Ashton the lowest scan from KFSD is about 3,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Ashton 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 Ashton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Sibley, IA radar 7 mi
- Sheldon, IA radar 9 mi
- George, IA radar 11 mi
- Sanborn, IA radar 11 mi
- Hartley, IA radar 18 mi
- Hull, IA radar 19 mi
- Rock Rapids, IA radar 21 mi
- Alton, IA radar 25 mi
- Sioux Center, IA radar 25 mi
- Orange City, IA radar 25 mi