Harper, IA Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Harper What TALON shows

What weather hits Harper?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 72 days in the Keokuk forecast zone and Keokuk County — the most common reported hazard around Harper, mostly in January and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (61 days) and flooding (24 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Heavy snow & winter storms	72	Nov 2025	Jan 6, 2005 · $10,000 damage
Damaging thunderstorm winds	61	Jun 2026	Aug 3, 2010 · $100,000 damage
Flooding	24	Mar 2019	Jun 1, 2008 · $570,000 damage
Flash flooding	15	Jul 2024	Jun 15, 2010 · $100,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill	12	Jan 2019	—
Ice storms & sleet	9	Dec 2024	Feb 24, 2007 · $291,000 damage
Blizzards	8	Mar 2026	—
High winds	7	Oct 2008	Apr 6, 1997 · $100,000 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 Keokuk forecast zone and Keokuk County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Harper?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 78 miles east-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 Harper	View
KDVN Quad Cities, IA	78 mi east-northeast	6,600 ft	Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KDMX Des Moines, IA	90 mi west-northwest	8,200 ft	Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KILX Lincoln, IL	165 mi east-southeast	21,200 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 Harper

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 99 tornadoes within 25 miles of Harper, 23 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F4 on June 7, 1984, which passed about 6 miles northwest of town and caused 3 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on May 24, 2024, which passed about 12 miles west-northwest of town.

Hail: 170 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 12 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on August 28, 1990.

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 Harper'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.

Harper radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Harper, IA?

KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 78 miles east-northeast. KDMX (Des Moines, IA) is 90 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Harper?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Harper the lowest scan from KDVN is about 6,600 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.

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

Radar for nearby towns

All Iowa towns →