Dickens, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Dickens, Clay County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Dickens?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 102 days in the Clay forecast zone and Clay County — the most common reported hazard around Dickens, mostly in May and March. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (79 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (53 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 102 | Jul 2024 | Jun 21, 2024 · 1 death · $26 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 79 | Jun 2026 | Sep 8, 2005 · $500,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 53 | Dec 2025 | Apr 10, 2013 · $10 million damage |
| High winds | 41 | Mar 2026 | Apr 7, 2001 · $400,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 34 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Blizzards | 28 | Mar 2026 | Nov 10, 1998 · $23,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 24 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 16 | Sep 2018 | — |
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 Clay forecast zone and Clay County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Dickens get?
A normal year brings about 43 inches of snow to Dickens, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Spencer 1 N weather station 6.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (9.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.7 | 5.3 | 9.6 | 9.8 | 8.9 | 5.9 | 3.0 | 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 Dickens?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 91 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 Dickens | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 91 mi west-northwest | 8,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 117 mi southeast | 12,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 139 mi north-northeast | 16,000 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 Dickens
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 109 tornadoes within 25 miles of Dickens, 29 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F3 on May 5, 1964, which passed about 21 miles west of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on August 29, 2024, which touched down about 24 miles north of town.
Hail: 415 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 48 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on August 4, 1995.
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 Dickens'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.
Dickens radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Dickens, IA?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 91 miles west-northwest. KDMX (Des Moines, IA) is 117 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Dickens?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Dickens the lowest scan from KFSD is about 8,400 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Dickens 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 Dickens, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Spencer, IA radar 7 mi
- Milford, IA radar 16 mi
- Arnolds Park, IA radar 17 mi
- Emmetsburg, IA radar 17 mi
- Spirit Lake, IA radar 20 mi
- Estherville, IA radar 21 mi
- Laurens, IA radar 22 mi
- Hartley, IA radar 23 mi
- Lake Park, IA radar 26 mi
- Sanborn, IA radar 32 mi