Chester, IA Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for ChesterWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Chester?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 64 days in the Howard forecast zone and Howard County — the most common reported hazard around Chester, mostly in February and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (48 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (31 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Heavy snow & winter storms64Feb 2026Feb 23, 2007 · $80,000 damage
Damaging thunderstorm winds48Jul 2025Sep 2, 2011 · $7.5 million damage
Extreme cold & wind chill31Jan 2026—
Blizzards19Mar 2026—
Flash flooding19Jun 2020Jun 1, 2000 · $425,000 damage
High winds16Mar 2026Nov 10, 1998 · $185,000 damage
Flooding14Jun 2024Jun 7, 2008 · $1.8 million damage
Excessive heat12Jun 2026Jul 17, 2011 · $15,000 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 Howard forecast zone and Howard County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Chester?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 63 miles east-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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over ChesterView
KARX
La Crosse, WI		63 mi east-northeast4,900 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KMPX
Minneapolis, MN		111 mi north-northwest11,300 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KDMX
Des Moines, IA		140 mi south-southwest16,200 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 Chester

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 102 tornadoes within 25 miles of Chester, 21 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F5 on May 15, 1968, which passed about 2 miles southeast of town and caused 13 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on August 5, 2024, which touched down about 14 miles northwest of town.

Hail: 184 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 15 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on July 20, 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 Chester'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.

Chester radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Chester, IA?

KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 63 miles east-northeast. KMPX (Minneapolis, MN) is 111 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Chester?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Chester the lowest scan from KARX is about 4,900 ft up.

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

Radar for nearby towns

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