Franklin, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Franklin, Lee County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Franklin?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 101 days in the Lee forecast zone and Lee County — the most common reported hazard around Franklin, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (59 days) and flooding (49 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 101 | Apr 2026 | Sep 11, 2000 · $1.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 59 | Nov 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 49 | Jun 2019 | Jun 1, 2008 · $4.5 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 29 | Apr 2026 | May 12, 2010 · $859,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 12 | Jan 2019 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 10 | Dec 2024 | Feb 24, 2007 · $227,000 damage |
| High winds | 8 | Dec 2021 | Apr 6, 1997 · $100,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 5 | Mar 2026 | — |
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 Lee forecast zone and Lee County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Franklin get?
A normal year brings about 27 inches of snow to Franklin, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Donnellson weather station 3.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (7.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 1.5 | 6.4 | 7.3 | 7.4 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 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 Franklin?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 81 miles northeast. 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 Franklin | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 81 mi northeast | 7,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 120 mi east-southeast | 12,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 136 mi west-northwest | 15,600 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 Franklin
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 111 tornadoes within 25 miles of Franklin, 28 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on May 13, 1995, which passed about 12 miles east-southeast of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on August 11, 2025, which touched down about 17 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 344 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 33 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 17, 1992.
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 Franklin'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.
Franklin radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Franklin, IA?
KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 81 miles northeast. KILX (Lincoln, IL) is 120 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Franklin?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Franklin the lowest scan from KDVN is about 7,100 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Franklin 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 Franklin, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Fort Madison, IA radar 9 mi
- New London, IA radar 19 mi
- Keokuk, IA radar 19 mi
- Mount Pleasant, IA radar 20 mi
- West Burlington, IA radar 21 mi
- Burlington, IA radar 23 mi
- Mediapolis, IA radar 30 mi
- Winfield, IA radar 32 mi
- Fairfield, IA radar 33 mi
- Wapello, IA radar 39 mi