Ionia, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Ionia, Chickasaw County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Ionia?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 60 days in the Chickasaw forecast zone and Chickasaw County — the most common reported hazard around Ionia, mostly in January and February. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (50 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (32 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 60 | Feb 2026 | Feb 23, 2007 · $100,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 50 | Aug 2024 | Jun 29, 2014 · $1.5 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 32 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 26 | Aug 2025 | Aug 24, 2016 · 1 death · $10,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 20 | Mar 2026 | — |
| High winds | 15 | Mar 2026 | Nov 10, 1998 · $150,000 damage |
| Flooding | 15 | Aug 2025 | Aug 28, 2021 · $3.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 12 | Jun 2026 | Jul 17, 2011 · $33,000 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 Chickasaw forecast zone and Chickasaw County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Ionia get?
A normal year brings about 36 inches of snow to Ionia, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Ionia 2 W weather station 2.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (9.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 1.6 | 9.0 | 8.1 | 9.3 | 5.0 | 2.1 | 0.4 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Ionia?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 84 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 Ionia | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 84 mi northeast | 7,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 111 mi southwest | 11,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 137 mi north-northwest | 15,700 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 Ionia
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 117 tornadoes within 25 miles of Ionia, 30 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F5 on May 15, 1968, which passed about 14 miles northwest of town and caused 13 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on May 9, 2024, which touched down about 10 miles west of town.
Hail: 321 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 38 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.75-inch hail on June 8, 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 Ionia'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.
Ionia radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Ionia, IA?
KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 84 miles northeast. KDMX (Des Moines, IA) is 111 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Ionia?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Ionia the lowest scan from KARX is about 7,400 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Ionia 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 Ionia, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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