Charles City, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Charles City, Floyd County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Charles City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 61 days in the Floyd forecast zone and Floyd County — the most common reported hazard around Charles City, mostly in June and May. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (56 days) and flooding (35 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 61 | May 2026 | Jun 22, 2015 · $890,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 56 | Feb 2026 | Feb 23, 2007 · $90,000 damage |
| Flooding | 35 | Aug 2025 | Jun 7, 2008 · $2.3 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 29 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 22 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 21 | Aug 2021 | Jul 19, 1999 · 1 death · $1.1 million damage |
| High winds | 18 | Mar 2026 | Nov 10, 1998 · $150,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 13 | Jun 2026 | Jul 17, 2011 · $45,000 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 Floyd forecast zone and Floyd County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Charles City get?
A normal year brings about 38 inches of snow to Charles City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Charles City weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually January (9.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 2.8 | 8.0 | 9.5 | 9.3 | 5.4 | 2.1 | 0.3 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Charles City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 91 miles 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 Charles City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 91 mi northeast | 8,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 107 mi south-southwest | 10,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 131 mi north-northwest | 14,600 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 Charles City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 112 tornadoes within 25 miles of Charles City, 24 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F5 on May 15, 1968, which passed about 4 miles northwest of town and caused 13 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on May 9, 2024, which touched down about 3 miles south of town.
Hail: 296 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 33 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.75-inch hail on June 8, 1993.
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 Charles 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.
Charles City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Charles City, IA?
KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 91 miles northeast. KDMX (Des Moines, IA) is 107 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Charles City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Charles City the lowest scan from KARX is about 8,300 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Charles 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 Charles City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Nashua, IA radar 10 mi
- Osage, IA radar 17 mi
- Nora Springs, IA radar 18 mi
- New Hampton, IA radar 18 mi
- Clarksville, IA radar 20 mi
- Shell Rock, IA radar 25 mi
- St. Ansgar, IA radar 25 mi
- Waverly, IA radar 26 mi
- Rockwell, IA radar 27 mi
- Mason City, IA radar 27 mi