Council Bluffs, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Council Bluffs?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 90 days in the Pottawattamie forecast zone and Pottawattamie County — the most common reported hazard around Council Bluffs, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (57 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (40 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 90 | Jun 2026 | Jun 27, 2008 · 2 deaths · $13 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 57 | Feb 2026 | Oct 25, 1997 · $3.2 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 40 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 28 | Jul 2024 | Aug 1, 2011 · $5.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 26 | Jun 2026 | — |
| High winds | 24 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 13 | May 2024 | Sep 23, 2015 · $6.0 million damage |
| Blizzards | 12 | Mar 2025 | — |
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 Pottawattamie forecast zone and Pottawattamie County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Council Bluffs get?
A normal year brings about 27 inches of snow to Council Bluffs, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Omaha Eppley Airfield weather station 5.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (7.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 1.7 | 5.8 | 7.2 | 7.8 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 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 Council Bluffs?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 27 miles west-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 Council Bluffs | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 27 mi west-northwest | 1,600 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 115 mi east-northeast | 12,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 150 mi west-southwest | 18,100 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 Council Bluffs
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 124 tornadoes within 25 miles of Council Bluffs, 31 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on May 6, 1975, which passed about 9 miles west-northwest of town and caused 3 deaths. The most recent was an EF3 on April 17, 2025, which passed about 14 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 861 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 123 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 25, 2024.
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 Council Bluffs'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.
Council Bluffs radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Council Bluffs, IA?
KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 27 miles west-northwest. KDMX (Des Moines, IA) is 115 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Council Bluffs?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Council Bluffs the lowest scan from KOAX is about 1,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Council Bluffs 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 Council Bluffs, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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