Harlan, IA Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Harlan, Shelby County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for Harlan What TALON shows

What weather hits Harlan?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 65 days in the Shelby forecast zone and Shelby County — the most common reported hazard around Harlan, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (49 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (45 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds	65	Aug 2025	Jun 9, 1999 · $400,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms	49	Feb 2026	Oct 25, 1997 · $1.6 million damage
Extreme cold & wind chill	45	Jan 2026	—
High winds	22	Mar 2026	—
Excessive heat	22	Jun 2026	—
Blizzards	13	Mar 2025	—
Ice storms & sleet	3	Jan 2010	—
Flash flooding	3	Jun 2014	Jun 30, 2014 · $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 Shelby forecast zone and Shelby County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

How much snow does Harlan get?

A normal year brings about 30 inches of snow to Harlan, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Harlan weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually January (7.6 in).

Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May
0.9	2.2	6.7	7.6	7.6	4.0	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 Harlan?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 58 miles west-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 Harlan	View
KOAX Omaha, NE	58 mi west-southwest	4,400 ft	Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KDMX Des Moines, IA	83 mi east	7,300 ft	Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KFSD Sioux Falls, SD	152 mi north-northwest	18,500 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 Harlan

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 109 tornadoes within 25 miles of Harlan, 27 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on June 26, 1976, which passed about 15 miles southwest of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 28, 2024, which touched down about 18 miles south-southeast of town.

Hail: 309 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 37 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 26, 1993.

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 Harlan'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.

Harlan radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Harlan, IA?

KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 58 miles west-southwest. KDMX (Des Moines, IA) is 83 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Harlan?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Harlan the lowest scan from KOAX is about 4,400 ft up.

Is TALON's radar for Harlan 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 Harlan, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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