Creston, IA Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Creston What TALON shows

What weather hits Creston?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 73 days in the Union forecast zone and Union County — the most common reported hazard around Creston, mostly in June and May. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (45 days) and high winds (26 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds	73	Jul 2025	Aug 9, 2009 · $550,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms	45	Feb 2025	Oct 26, 1997 · $3.2 million damage
High winds	26	Mar 2025	Nov 10, 1998 · $305,000 damage
Flash flooding	18	Jun 2019	Sep 19, 2010 · $275,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill	16	Jan 2025	Sep 21, 1999 · $294,000 damage
Ice storms & sleet	15	Jan 2017	Jan 20, 2010 · $100,000 damage
Blizzards	14	Mar 2025	Dec 20, 2012 · $100,000 damage
Flooding	13	Jul 2015	Jun 12, 2010 · $20 million 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 Union forecast zone and Union County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Creston?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 57 miles 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 Creston	View
KDMX Des Moines, IA	57 mi northeast	4,300 ft	Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KOAX Omaha, NE	106 mi west	10,500 ft	Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KEAX Kansas City, MO	156 mi south	19,300 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 Creston

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 124 tornadoes within 25 miles of Creston, 35 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an EF4 on March 5, 2022, which passed about 15 miles northeast of town and caused 6 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on April 17, 2025, which passed about 9 miles south of town.

Hail: 344 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 41 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on April 20, 1961.

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 Creston'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.

Creston radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Creston, IA?

KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 57 miles northeast. KOAX (Omaha, NE) is 106 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Creston?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Creston the lowest scan from KDMX is about 4,300 ft up.

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

Radar for nearby towns

All Iowa towns →