Barnes City, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Barnes City, Mahaska County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Barnes City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 103 days in the Mahaska forecast zone and Mahaska County — the most common reported hazard around Barnes City, mostly in June and May. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (71 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (44 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 103 | Jun 2019 | Jun 12, 2010 · $20 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 71 | Jun 2025 | Jun 21, 1997 · $325,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 44 | Feb 2025 | Oct 26, 1997 · $3.2 million damage |
| High winds | 26 | Mar 2025 | May 30, 2003 · 1 death · $25,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 18 | Jul 2024 | Jun 25, 2000 · $600,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 15 | Jan 2025 | Sep 21, 1999 · $294,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 12 | Jan 2024 | Dec 20, 2012 · $100,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 12 | Dec 2024 | Jan 20, 2010 · $250,000 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 Mahaska forecast zone and Mahaska County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Barnes City get?
A normal year brings about 30 inches of snow to Barnes City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Montezuma 1 W weather station 6.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (8.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 1.1 | 7.9 | 8.7 | 6.9 | 3.9 | 1.0 | 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 Barnes City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 67 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 Barnes City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 67 mi west-northwest | 5,300 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 98 mi east | 9,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 173 mi north-northeast | 22,900 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 Barnes City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 89 tornadoes within 25 miles of Barnes City, 22 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on June 7, 1984, which passed about 14 miles southeast of town and caused 3 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on May 24, 2024, which passed about 12 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 228 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 30 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.75-inch hail on May 8, 2003.
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 Barnes City'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.
Barnes City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Barnes City, IA?
KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 67 miles west-northwest. KDVN (Quad Cities, IA) is 98 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Barnes City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Barnes City the lowest scan from KDMX is about 5,300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Barnes City 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 Barnes City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Montezuma, IA radar 6 mi
- New Sharon, IA radar 10 mi
- Brooklyn, IA radar 16 mi
- Oskaloosa, IA radar 17 mi
- Sigourney, IA radar 18 mi
- North English, IA radar 20 mi
- Grinnell, IA radar 21 mi
- Pella, IA radar 24 mi
- Williamsburg, IA radar 26 mi
- Belle Plaine, IA radar 29 mi