Chapin, IA Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Chapin, Franklin County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for ChapinWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Chapin?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 59 days in the Franklin forecast zone and Franklin County — the most common reported hazard around Chapin, mostly in June and August. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (51 days) and high winds (43 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds59Aug 2025Jun 16, 2014 · $400,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms51Feb 2026Feb 24, 2007 · $250,000 damage
High winds43Mar 2025Nov 10, 1998 · $305,000 damage
Flooding34May 2024Jun 12, 2010 · $20 million damage
Blizzards32Mar 2025Dec 20, 2012 · $100,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill26Jan 2025Sep 21, 1999 · $294,000 damage
Flash flooding16Mar 2019Jun 19, 2014 · $25 million damage
Ice storms & sleet14Feb 2023Dec 23, 2009 · $500,000 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 Franklin forecast zone and Franklin County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Chapin?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 81 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over ChapinView
KDMX
Des Moines, IA		81 mi south-southwest6,900 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KARX
La Crosse, WI		123 mi northeast13,200 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KMPX
Minneapolis, MN		140 mi north16,300 ftLimited — 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 Chapin

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 109 tornadoes within 25 miles of Chapin, 26 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F5 on May 15, 1968, which passed about 7 miles southeast of town and caused 13 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on July 28, 2025, which touched down about 19 miles north-northwest of town.

Hail: 337 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 16 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 1, 2001.

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 Chapin'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.

Chapin radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Chapin, IA?

KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 81 miles south-southwest. KARX (La Crosse, WI) is 123 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Chapin?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Chapin the lowest scan from KDMX is about 6,900 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.

Is TALON's radar for Chapin 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 Chapin, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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