Des Moines, IA Live Doppler Radar

Watch storms move over Des Moines in real time — every NWS radar combined, storm tracks, official warnings, and the closest radar's full 250 m detail.

Open live radar for Des Moines What TALON shows

Which radars cover Des Moines?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar to Des Moines, IA is KDMX (Des Moines), about 11 miles to the north-northwest. Radar beams climb as they travel because the Earth curves away underneath them, so the height of the lowest scan over a city decides how much of a storm's base the radar can see.

Radar	Distance	Lowest beam over Des Moines	View of low-level rotation
KDMX Des Moines, IA	11 mi north-northwest	600 ft	Excellent — the lowest scan is close to the ground, where tornadoes form
KOAX Omaha, NE	143 mi west	16,800 ft	Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KDVN Quad Cities, IA	157 mi east	19,600 ft	Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms

Beam height is the center of the 0.5° scan above the radar, using standard atmospheric refraction. Hills and buildings near the radar can block it further.

On TALON you get Des Moines's live radar loop, storm tracks with arrival times and NWS warnings free; close-up radar and rotation detection are part of TALON Pro.

Tornado & hail history near Des Moines

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 196 tornadoes within 25 miles of Des Moines, 32 of them rated EF2/F2 or stronger. They have been most common in May and June. The strongest was an EF4 on March 5, 2022, which passed about 7 miles south-southeast of the city and caused 6 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on July 15, 2024, which crossed near the city center.

Hail: 822 reports of hail 1 inch or larger within 25 miles of Des Moines since 1955, 72 of them 2 inches or larger. The largest was 5.50-inch hail (grapefruit size) on May 22, 2004.

Tornadoes since 1950	196
EF2/F2 or stronger	32
Strongest tornado	EF4 · Mar 2022
Busiest tornado month	May
Largest hail	5.50 in · May 2004

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database — tornadoes 1950–2025, hail 1955–2025 (the latest year is preliminary). Distances are to each tornado's recorded track; ratings before February 2007 use the original Fujita (F) scale.

Des Moines radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Des Moines?

KDMX near Des Moines, IA, about 11 miles away. A second radar, KOAX (Omaha), is 143 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado over Des Moines?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it can see the rotating storm and, once a tornado is lofting debris, a debris signature. Over Des Moines the lowest scan from KDMX is roughly 600 ft up. Excellent — the lowest scan is close to the ground, where tornadoes form. TALON combines that with NOAA's ProbSevere model to flag storms most likely to produce tornadoes.

How often do tornadoes hit Des Moines?

NOAA records show 196 tornadoes within 25 miles of Des Moines since 1950 — about 2.6 a year on average, most often in May and June. Most were weak, but 32 were EF2/F2 or stronger.

Should I rely on radar for my safety?

No app replaces official warnings. When the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning for Des Moines, take shelter right away — see watch vs. warning.