Central City, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Central City, Linn County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Central City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 152 days in the Linn forecast zone and Linn County — the most common reported hazard around Central City, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (91 days) and flash flooding (44 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 152 | Jun 2026 | Aug 10, 2020 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 91 | Nov 2025 | Jan 5, 2005 · $20,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 44 | Jun 2026 | Jun 30, 2014 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 25 | May 2025 | Jun 1, 2008 · $750 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 19 | Jan 2019 | Dec 18, 2016 · 1 death |
| High winds | 17 | Mar 2025 | Jun 10, 2003 · $550,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 14 | Jul 2019 | Jun 20, 2015 · 1 death |
| Ice storms & sleet | 11 | Dec 2024 | Dec 11, 2007 · 1 death |
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 Linn forecast zone and Linn County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Central City get?
A normal year brings about 34 inches of snow to Central City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Cedar Rapids #1 weather station 11 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (9.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.6 | 2.2 | 9.0 | 8.7 | 8.3 | 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 Central City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 63 miles southeast. 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 Central City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 63 mi southeast | 4,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 113 mi north | 11,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 118 mi west-southwest | 12,300 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 Central City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 162 tornadoes within 25 miles of Central City, 37 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and July. The strongest was an F4 on August 12, 1974, which passed about 10 miles north-northeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on July 11, 2025, which passed about 13 miles west of town.
Hail: 399 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 32 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 18, 1998.
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 Central 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.
Central City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Central City, IA?
KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 63 miles southeast. KARX (La Crosse, WI) is 113 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Central City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Central City the lowest scan from KDVN is about 4,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Central 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 Central City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Springville, IA radar 11 mi
- Marion, IA radar 11 mi
- Robins, IA radar 11 mi
- Hiawatha, IA radar 13 mi
- Center Point, IA radar 13 mi
- Anamosa, IA radar 14 mi
- Palo, IA radar 17 mi
- Monticello, IA radar 17 mi
- Cedar Rapids, IA radar 18 mi
- Urbana, IA radar 19 mi