Defiance, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Defiance, Shelby County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Defiance?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 65 days in the Shelby forecast zone and Shelby County — the most common reported hazard around Defiance, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (49 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (45 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 65 | Aug 2025 | Jun 9, 1999 · $400,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 49 | Feb 2026 | Oct 25, 1997 · $1.6 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 45 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 22 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 22 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 13 | Mar 2025 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 3 | Jan 2010 | — |
| Flash flooding | 3 | Jun 2014 | Jun 30, 2014 · $50,000 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 Shelby forecast zone and Shelby County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Defiance get?
A normal year brings about 30 inches of snow to Defiance, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Harlan weather station 12.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (7.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.9 | 2.2 | 6.7 | 7.6 | 7.6 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 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 Defiance?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 64 miles west-southwest. 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 Defiance | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 64 mi west-southwest | 4,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 84 mi east | 7,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 141 mi north-northwest | 16,400 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 Defiance
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 106 tornadoes within 25 miles of Defiance, 20 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F3 on May 16, 1999, which passed about 24 miles west-southwest of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on May 24, 2024, which touched down about 5 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 283 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 30 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 26, 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 Defiance'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.
Defiance radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Defiance, IA?
KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 64 miles west-southwest. KDMX (Des Moines, IA) is 84 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Defiance?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Defiance the lowest scan from KOAX is about 4,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Defiance 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 Defiance, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Harlan, IA radar 12 mi
- Denison, IA radar 13 mi
- Dunlap, IA radar 14 mi
- Manning, IA radar 15 mi
- Woodbine, IA radar 20 mi
- Audubon, IA radar 22 mi
- Avoca, IA radar 24 mi
- Logan, IA radar 26 mi
- Carroll, IA radar 30 mi
- Mapleton, IA radar 33 mi