Dakota City, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Dakota City, Humboldt County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Dakota City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 74 days in the Humboldt forecast zone and Humboldt County — the most common reported hazard around Dakota City, mostly in June and May. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (48 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (47 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 74 | Jul 2024 | Jun 12, 2010 · $20 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 48 | Jan 2024 | Feb 24, 2007 · $250,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 47 | Aug 2025 | Jul 17, 2010 · $300,000 damage |
| High winds | 44 | Mar 2025 | Nov 10, 1998 · $305,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 34 | Mar 2025 | Dec 20, 2012 · $100,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 25 | Jan 2025 | Sep 21, 1999 · $294,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 14 | Jan 2023 | Dec 23, 2009 · $500,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 8 | Jul 2019 | Jul 9, 2000 · $200,000 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 Humboldt forecast zone and Humboldt County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Dakota City get?
A normal year brings about 39 inches of snow to Dakota City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Ft Dodge 5Nnw weather station 9.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (11.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 | 2.8 | 7.9 | 8.6 | 11.8 | 5.6 | 1.5 | 0.4 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Dakota City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 73 miles south-southeast. 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 Dakota City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 73 mi south-southeast | 6,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 141 mi west-northwest | 16,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 148 mi southwest | 17,700 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 Dakota City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 129 tornadoes within 25 miles of Dakota City, 32 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on June 28, 1979, which passed about 20 miles southwest of town and caused 3 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on June 26, 2025, which touched down about 13 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 350 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 37 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on July 10, 1993.
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 Dakota 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.
Dakota City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Dakota City, IA?
KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 73 miles south-southeast. KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD) is 141 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Dakota City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Dakota City the lowest scan from KDMX is about 6,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Dakota 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 Dakota City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Humboldt, IA radar 1 mi
- Fort Dodge, IA radar 15 mi
- Eagle Grove, IA radar 15 mi
- Manson, IA radar 22 mi
- Clarion, IA radar 24 mi
- Pocahontas, IA radar 24 mi
- Algona, IA radar 24 mi
- Webster City, IA radar 26 mi
- Belmond, IA radar 31 mi
- Rockwell City, IA radar 31 mi