Drakesville, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Drakesville, Davis County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Drakesville?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 41 days in the Davis forecast zone and Davis County — the most common reported hazard around Drakesville, mostly in June and August. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (32 days) and high winds (17 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 41 | Jul 2024 | Jun 7, 2009 · $1.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 32 | Jan 2024 | Apr 10, 1997 · $1.6 million damage |
| High winds | 17 | Mar 2025 | Apr 6, 1997 · $1.8 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 17 | Dec 2024 | Dec 11, 2007 · $150,000 damage |
| Flooding | 15 | May 2019 | Jun 12, 2010 · $20 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 14 | Sep 2019 | Aug 24, 2007 · $575,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 13 | Jan 2024 | Feb 4, 1996 · 1 death |
| Blizzards | 6 | Jan 2024 | Jan 28, 1996 · $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 Davis forecast zone and Davis County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Drakesville get?
A normal year brings about 24 inches of snow to Drakesville, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Bloomfield weather station 5.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (7.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 1.5 | 5.1 | 7.4 | 5.5 | 3.2 | 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 Drakesville?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 91 miles 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 Drakesville | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 91 mi northwest | 8,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 114 mi east-northeast | 11,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KEAX Kansas City, MO | 167 mi southwest | 21,600 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 Drakesville
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 78 tornadoes within 25 miles of Drakesville, 26 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on May 20, 1959, which passed about 22 miles west-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on November 5, 2024, which touched down about 7 miles east of town.
Hail: 281 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 36 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on June 17, 2017.
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 Drakesville'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.
Drakesville radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Drakesville, IA?
KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 91 miles northwest. KDVN (Quad Cities, IA) is 114 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Drakesville?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Drakesville the lowest scan from KDMX 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 Drakesville 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 Drakesville, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Bloomfield, IA radar 5 mi
- Ottumwa, IA radar 16 mi
- Centerville, IA radar 21 mi
- Albia, IA radar 23 mi
- Fairfield, IA radar 30 mi
- Oskaloosa, IA radar 35 mi
- Sigourney, IA radar 40 mi
- Corydon, IA radar 44 mi
- Chariton, IA radar 46 mi
- New Sharon, IA radar 47 mi