Chelsea, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Chelsea, Tama County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Chelsea?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 60 days in the Tama forecast zone and Tama County — the most common reported hazard around Chelsea, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (50 days) and flooding (35 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 60 | Jul 2025 | Jun 29, 1998 · $1.1 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 50 | Feb 2026 | Oct 26, 1997 · $3.2 million damage |
| Flooding | 35 | May 2024 | Jun 12, 2010 · $20 million damage |
| High winds | 34 | Mar 2025 | Nov 10, 1998 · $305,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 20 | Jan 2025 | Sep 21, 1999 · $294,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 14 | Feb 2023 | Jan 20, 2010 · $100,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 13 | Jan 2024 | Dec 20, 2012 · $100,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 11 | May 2024 | May 29, 2013 · $450,000 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 Tama forecast zone and Tama County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Chelsea get?
A normal year brings about 28 inches of snow to Chelsea, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Belle Plaine weather station 6.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (7.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 | 1.8 | 6.3 | 7.8 | 7.4 | 3.4 | 0.8 | 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 Chelsea?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 70 miles west. 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 Chelsea | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 70 mi west | 5,600 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 96 mi east-southeast | 9,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 145 mi north-northeast | 17,200 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 Chelsea
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 117 tornadoes within 25 miles of Chelsea, 31 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on August 12, 1974, which touched down about 16 miles southeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on July 11, 2025, which passed about 13 miles northeast of town.
Hail: 267 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 24 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.75-inch hail on August 16, 1987.
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 Chelsea'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.
Chelsea radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Chelsea, IA?
KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 70 miles west. KDVN (Quad Cities, IA) is 96 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Chelsea?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Chelsea the lowest scan from KDMX is about 5,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Chelsea 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 Chelsea, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Belle Plaine, IA radar 6 mi
- Tama, IA radar 10 mi
- Toledo, IA radar 11 mi
- Brooklyn, IA radar 13 mi
- Dysart, IA radar 18 mi
- Marengo, IA radar 19 mi
- Traer, IA radar 19 mi
- Grinnell, IA radar 21 mi
- Montezuma, IA radar 24 mi
- Vinton, IA radar 25 mi