La Porte City, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for La Porte City, Black Hawk County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits La Porte City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 118 days in the Black Hawk forecast zone and Black Hawk County — the most common reported hazard around La Porte City, mostly in June and May. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (91 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (49 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 118 | Jul 2025 | Jun 12, 2010 · $20 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 91 | Sep 2025 | Jul 10, 2009 · $750,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 49 | Feb 2026 | Feb 24, 2007 · $2.5 million damage |
| High winds | 38 | Mar 2025 | Oct 26, 2008 · $1.3 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 25 | Jul 2025 | Jul 2, 1999 · $1.3 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 20 | Jan 2025 | Sep 21, 1999 · $294,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 18 | Mar 2025 | Dec 20, 2012 · $250,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 14 | Aug 2025 | Jun 26, 2002 · $1.0 million 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 Black Hawk forecast zone and Black Hawk County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does La Porte City get?
A normal year brings about 34 inches of snow to La Porte City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Vinton weather station 13.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (8.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 | 1.8 | 8.8 | 8.3 | 8.5 | 4.4 | 1.4 | 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 La Porte City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 88 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 La Porte City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 88 mi west-southwest | 8,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 96 mi east-southeast | 9,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 116 mi north-northeast | 12,100 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 La Porte City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 126 tornadoes within 25 miles of La Porte City, 31 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an EF5 on May 25, 2008, which passed about 21 miles north of town and caused 9 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on July 11, 2025, which passed about 20 miles south of town.
Hail: 397 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 43 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on July 16, 2007.
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 La Porte City'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.
La Porte City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to La Porte City, IA?
KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 88 miles west-southwest. KDVN (Quad Cities, IA) is 96 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in La Porte City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over La Porte City the lowest scan from KDMX is about 8,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for La Porte City 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 La Porte City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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