Cherokee, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Cherokee, Cherokee County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Cherokee?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 50 days in the Cherokee forecast zone and Cherokee County — the most common reported hazard around Cherokee, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (48 days) and flooding (39 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 50 | May 2026 | Jul 22, 2010 · $200,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 48 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 39 | Jul 2024 | Mar 13, 2019 · $3.4 million damage |
| Blizzards | 26 | Mar 2026 | Nov 10, 1998 · $23,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 25 | Jun 2026 | — |
| High winds | 24 | Dec 2025 | Apr 7, 2001 · $100,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 23 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 23 | Aug 2025 | May 27, 2013 · $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 Cherokee forecast zone and Cherokee County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Cherokee get?
A normal year brings about 38 inches of snow to Cherokee, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Cherokee weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually December (9.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 4.0 | 9.4 | 7.5 | 8.4 | 5.2 | 2.7 | 0.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Cherokee?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 83 miles northwest. 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 Cherokee | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 83 mi northwest | 7,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 107 mi south-southwest | 10,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 117 mi southeast | 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 Cherokee
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 101 tornadoes within 25 miles of Cherokee, 25 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on June 23, 1952, which passed about 7 miles north-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 31, 2024, which touched down about 23 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 341 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 30 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 19, 1996.
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 Cherokee'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.
Cherokee radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Cherokee, IA?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 83 miles northwest. KOAX (Omaha, NE) is 107 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Cherokee?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Cherokee the lowest scan from KFSD is about 7,300 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Cherokee 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 Cherokee, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Kingsley, IA radar 24 mi
- Ida Grove, IA radar 28 mi
- Alton, IA radar 28 mi
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- Sanborn, IA radar 30 mi