Castana, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Castana, Monona County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Castana?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 62 days in the Monona forecast zone and Monona County — the most common reported hazard around Castana, mostly in July and August. Next come extreme cold & wind chill (54 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (41 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 62 | May 2026 | May 5, 2007 · $40,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 54 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 41 | Nov 2025 | — |
| High winds | 26 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 15 | Mar 2025 | — |
| Excessive heat | 15 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 11 | Jun 2024 | Jul 16, 1996 · $29 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 9 | Jun 2024 | May 5, 2007 · $1.4 million 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 Monona forecast zone and Monona County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Castana get?
A normal year brings about 29 inches of snow to Castana, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Castana Exp Farm weather station 3.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (7.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.7 | 2.0 | 5.7 | 7.1 | 7.2 | 4.2 | 1.7 | 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 Castana?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 57 miles south-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 Castana | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 57 mi south-southwest | 4,300 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 113 mi north-northwest | 11,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 115 mi east | 11,900 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 Castana
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 81 tornadoes within 25 miles of Castana, 18 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on July 28, 1986, which passed about 15 miles west-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on June 12, 2024, which touched down about 18 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 266 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 34 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.50-inch hail on June 12, 2024.
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 Castana'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.
Castana radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Castana, IA?
KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 57 miles south-southwest. KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD) is 113 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Castana?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Castana the lowest scan from KOAX is about 4,300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Castana 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 Castana, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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