Brayton, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Brayton, Audubon County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Brayton?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 54 days in the Audubon forecast zone and Audubon County — the most common reported hazard around Brayton, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (41 days) and high winds (33 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 54 | Jul 2025 | Jul 10, 2002 · $3.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 41 | Feb 2026 | Oct 26, 1997 · $3.2 million damage |
| High winds | 33 | Mar 2025 | Nov 10, 1998 · $305,000 damage |
| Flooding | 20 | Mar 2019 | Jun 12, 2010 · $20 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 16 | Jan 2025 | Sep 21, 1999 · $294,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 15 | Mar 2025 | Dec 20, 2012 · $100,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 10 | Jan 2017 | Dec 23, 2009 · $2.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 9 | Aug 2017 | May 22, 2004 · $200,000 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 Audubon forecast zone and Audubon County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Brayton get?
A normal year brings about 27 inches of snow to Brayton, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Atlantic 1 Ne weather station 9.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (7.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.7 | 2.0 | 7.7 | 5.1 | 7.9 | 3.4 | 0.5 | 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 Brayton?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 64 miles east-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 Brayton | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 64 mi east-northeast | 5,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 76 mi west-southwest | 6,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 168 mi north-northwest | 21,900 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 Brayton
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 104 tornadoes within 25 miles of Brayton, 26 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F5 on June 27, 1953, which touched down about 14 miles east-southeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 28, 2024, which touched down about 14 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 351 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 55 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on July 2, 1999.
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 Brayton'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.
Brayton radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Brayton, IA?
KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 64 miles east-northeast. KOAX (Omaha, NE) is 76 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Brayton?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Brayton the lowest scan from KDMX is about 5,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Brayton 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 Brayton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Atlantic, IA radar 12 mi
- Audubon, IA radar 12 mi
- Avoca, IA radar 21 mi
- Harlan, IA radar 22 mi
- Guthrie Center, IA radar 24 mi
- Manning, IA radar 26 mi
- Coon Rapids, IA radar 26 mi
- Oakland, IA radar 29 mi
- Greenfield, IA radar 29 mi
- Panora, IA radar 31 mi