Clayton, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Clayton, Clayton County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Clayton?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 107 days in the Clayton forecast zone and Clayton County — the most common reported hazard around Clayton, mostly in May and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (78 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (76 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 107 | Aug 2025 | Jun 7, 2008 · $25 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 78 | Feb 2026 | Nov 20, 1996 · $2,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 76 | May 2026 | Jun 22, 2015 · $200,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 31 | Aug 2025 | Jul 21, 2017 · $12 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 21 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 15 | Jun 2026 | Jul 17, 2011 · $25,000 damage |
| High winds | 9 | Dec 2021 | Nov 10, 1998 · $225,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Dec 2024 | Jan 4, 1998 · $4,000 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 Clayton forecast zone and Clayton County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Clayton get?
A normal year brings about 34 inches of snow to Clayton, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Guttenberg L&D 10 weather station 8.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (10.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 1.2 | 9.2 | 10.0 | 9.3 | 3.7 | 0.7 | 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 Clayton?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 64 miles north. 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 Clayton | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 64 mi north | 5,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 94 mi south-southeast | 8,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 132 mi east | 14,700 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 Clayton
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 59 tornadoes within 25 miles of Clayton, 17 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on April 30, 1954, which passed about 8 miles west-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on March 31, 2023, which passed about 18 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 203 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 16 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on June 12, 1976.
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 Clayton'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.
Clayton radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Clayton, IA?
KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 64 miles north. KDVN (Quad Cities, IA) is 94 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Clayton?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Clayton the lowest scan from KARX is about 5,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Clayton 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 Clayton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Guttenberg, IA radar 8 mi
- Elkader, IA radar 13 mi
- Monona, IA radar 16 mi
- Postville, IA radar 25 mi
- Strawberry Point, IA radar 25 mi
- Dyersville, IA radar 29 mi
- Waukon, IA radar 30 mi
- Farley, IA radar 32 mi
- Manchester, IA radar 33 mi
- Asbury, IA radar 33 mi