Avoca, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Avoca, Pottawattamie County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Avoca?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 90 days in the Pottawattamie forecast zone and Pottawattamie County — the most common reported hazard around Avoca, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (57 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (40 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 90 | Jun 2026 | Jun 27, 2008 · 2 deaths · $13 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 57 | Feb 2026 | Oct 25, 1997 · $3.2 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 40 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 28 | Jul 2024 | Aug 1, 2011 · $5.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 26 | Jun 2026 | — |
| High winds | 24 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 13 | May 2024 | Sep 23, 2015 · $6.0 million damage |
| Blizzards | 12 | Mar 2025 | — |
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 Pottawattamie forecast zone and Pottawattamie County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Avoca get?
A normal year brings about 30 inches of snow to Avoca, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Harlan weather station 11.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (7.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.9 | 2.2 | 6.7 | 7.6 | 7.6 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 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 Avoca?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 55 miles west-southwest. 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 Avoca | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 55 mi west-southwest | 4,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 85 mi east-northeast | 7,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 162 mi north-northwest | 20,500 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 Avoca
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 113 tornadoes within 25 miles of Avoca, 26 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on June 26, 1976, which passed about 8 miles west of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 28, 2024, which touched down about 11 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 316 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 48 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 26, 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 Avoca'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.
Avoca radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Avoca, IA?
KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 55 miles west-southwest. KDMX (Des Moines, IA) is 85 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Avoca?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Avoca the lowest scan from KOAX is about 4,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Avoca 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 Avoca, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Harlan, IA radar 12 mi
- Oakland, IA radar 12 mi
- Atlantic, IA radar 17 mi
- Treynor, IA radar 22 mi
- Logan, IA radar 26 mi
- Woodbine, IA radar 26 mi
- Audubon, IA radar 27 mi
- Dunlap, IA radar 29 mi
- Missouri Valley, IA radar 30 mi
- Council Bluffs, IA radar 32 mi