Galva, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Galva, Ida County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Galva?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 49 days in the Ida forecast zone and Ida County — the most common reported hazard around Galva, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (42 days) and excessive heat (26 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 49 | May 2026 | Aug 8, 2010 · $100,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 42 | Nov 2025 | — |
| Excessive heat | 26 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 25 | Mar 2026 | Nov 10, 1998 · $23,000 damage |
| High winds | 23 | Mar 2026 | Apr 7, 2001 · $100,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 21 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 11 | Jun 2024 | Mar 13, 2019 · $810,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 10 | Jun 2012 | — |
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 Ida forecast zone and Ida County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Galva get?
A normal year brings about 36 inches of snow to Galva, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Galva weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually January (11.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 2.8 | 8.6 | 11.1 | 6.6 | 5.1 | 1.7 | 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 Galva?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 95 miles south-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 Galva | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 95 mi south-southwest | 8,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 100 mi northwest | 9,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 102 mi east-southeast | 9,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
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 Galva
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 83 tornadoes within 25 miles of Galva, 21 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and June. The strongest was an F4 on June 23, 1952, which passed about 25 miles north-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on May 21, 2024, which touched down about 18 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 311 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 25 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 19, 1996.
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 Galva'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.
Galva radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Galva, IA?
KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 95 miles south-southwest. KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD) is 100 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Galva?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Galva the lowest scan from KOAX is about 8,900 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Galva 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 Galva, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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