Kalona, IA Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for KalonaWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Kalona?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 82 days in the Washington forecast zone and Washington County — the most common reported hazard around Kalona, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (74 days) and flooding (32 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds82Jun 2026Jun 29, 1998 · $21 million damage
Heavy snow & winter storms74Nov 2025Mar 15, 2004 · $5,000 damage
Flooding32May 2019Jun 13, 2010 · $500,000 damage
Flash flooding24Jun 2026Aug 3, 2010 · $1.0 million damage
Extreme cold & wind chill11Jan 2019—
High winds10Jun 2011Apr 6, 1997 · $100,000 damage
Ice storms & sleet9Dec 2024Feb 24, 2007 · $377,000 damage
Blizzards7Mar 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 Washington forecast zone and Washington County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

How much snow does Kalona get?

A normal year brings about 28 inches of snow to Kalona, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Iowa City weather station 13.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (7.6 in).

OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMay
0.41.17.27.67.53.20.50.0

Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.

Which radars cover Kalona?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 59 miles east. 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over KalonaView
KDVN
Quad Cities, IA		59 mi east4,400 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KDMX
Des Moines, IA		106 mi west10,500 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KILX
Lincoln, IL		154 mi southeast19,000 ftLimited — 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 Kalona

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 113 tornadoes within 25 miles of Kalona, 30 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F4 on June 7, 1984, which passed about 10 miles northwest of town and caused 3 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on May 24, 2024, which passed about 5 miles northwest of town.

Hail: 274 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 23 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on April 13, 2006.

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 Kalona'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.

Kalona radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Kalona, IA?

KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 59 miles east. KDMX (Des Moines, IA) is 106 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Kalona?

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

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

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