Holy Cross, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Holy Cross, Dubuque County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Holy Cross?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 107 days in the Dubuque forecast zone and Dubuque County — the most common reported hazard around Holy Cross, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (86 days) and flash flooding (38 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 107 | Jun 2026 | Jul 5, 2003 · $1.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 86 | Nov 2025 | Jan 1, 1999 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 38 | Jun 2026 | May 17, 1999 · $16 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 20 | Jan 2019 | — |
| Flooding | 20 | Jul 2024 | Jun 1, 2008 · $6.4 million damage |
| High winds | 15 | Dec 2024 | Apr 6, 1997 · $100,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 11 | Dec 2024 | Jan 1, 2005 · $5,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 7 | 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 Dubuque forecast zone and Dubuque County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Holy Cross get?
A normal year brings about 34 inches of snow to Holy Cross, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Guttenberg L&D 10 weather station 13.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (10.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 1.2 | 9.2 | 10.0 | 9.3 | 3.7 | 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 Holy Cross?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 72 miles south-southeast. 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 Holy Cross | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 72 mi south-southeast | 5,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 85 mi north | 7,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 127 mi east-northeast | 13,800 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 Holy Cross
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 111 tornadoes within 25 miles of Holy Cross, 30 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on April 30, 1954, which passed about 23 miles west-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on July 11, 2025, which touched down about 24 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 317 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 29 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 18, 1998.
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 Holy Cross'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.
Holy Cross radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Holy Cross, IA?
KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 72 miles south-southeast. KARX (La Crosse, WI) is 85 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Holy Cross?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Holy Cross the lowest scan from KDVN is about 5,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Holy Cross 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 Holy Cross, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Dyersville, IA radar 10 mi
- Farley, IA radar 11 mi
- Epworth, IA radar 11 mi
- Asbury, IA radar 13 mi
- Peosta, IA radar 13 mi
- Guttenberg, IA radar 14 mi
- Dubuque, IA radar 16 mi
- Cascade, IA radar 21 mi
- Manchester, IA radar 25 mi
- Elkader, IA radar 27 mi