Columbus City, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Columbus City, Louisa County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Columbus City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 70 days in the Louisa forecast zone and Louisa County — the most common reported hazard around Columbus City, mostly in January and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (51 days) and flooding (48 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 70 | Nov 2025 | Jan 4, 2004 · $5,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 51 | Apr 2026 | Jun 29, 1998 · 1 death · $1.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 48 | Jul 2024 | Jun 1, 2008 · $19 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 20 | Jun 2026 | Jun 14, 2008 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 12 | Jan 2019 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 10 | Dec 2024 | Feb 24, 2007 · $1.1 million damage |
| High winds | 6 | Oct 2008 | Apr 6, 1997 · $100,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 6 | Mar 2026 | — |
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 Louisa forecast zone and Louisa County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Columbus City get?
A normal year brings about 31 inches of snow to Columbus City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Columbus Junction weather station 1.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (9.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 1.3 | 6.3 | 9.5 | 7.1 | 5.3 | 1.6 | 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 Columbus City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 48 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.
| Radar | Distance | Lowest beam over Columbus City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 48 mi east-northeast | 3,300 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 126 mi west-northwest | 13,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 131 mi southeast | 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 Columbus City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 107 tornadoes within 25 miles of Columbus City, 31 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F3 on May 15, 1998, which passed about 15 miles northwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on June 3, 2025, which touched down about 20 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 264 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 24 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on April 21, 1973.
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 Columbus 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.
Columbus City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Columbus City, IA?
KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 48 miles east-northeast. KDMX (Des Moines, IA) is 126 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Columbus City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Columbus City the lowest scan from KDVN is about 3,300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Columbus 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 Columbus City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Columbus Junction, IA radar 1 mi
- Winfield, IA radar 10 mi
- Wapello, IA radar 11 mi
- Lone Tree, IA radar 16 mi
- Washington, IA radar 17 mi
- Riverside, IA radar 19 mi
- Muscatine, IA radar 19 mi
- Mediapolis, IA radar 21 mi
- Mount Pleasant, IA radar 22 mi
- West Liberty, IA radar 22 mi