Lake Park, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lake Park, Dickinson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lake Park?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 66 days in the Dickinson forecast zone and Dickinson County — the most common reported hazard around Lake Park, mostly in March and April. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (66 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (51 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 66 | Jul 2024 | Jun 1, 2019 · $2.6 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 66 | Jun 2026 | Jul 17, 2010 · $500,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 51 | Nov 2025 | Apr 9, 2013 · $10 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 35 | Dec 2025 | — |
| High winds | 34 | Mar 2026 | Apr 7, 2001 · $200,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 30 | Mar 2026 | Nov 10, 1998 · $23,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 24 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 23 | Jun 2024 | — |
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 Dickinson forecast zone and Dickinson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Lake Park get?
A normal year brings about 41 inches of snow to Lake Park, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Lake Park weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually December (9.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.6 | 4.4 | 9.2 | 8.4 | 8.7 | 6.3 | 3.4 | 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 Lake Park?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 71 miles west. 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 Lake Park | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 71 mi west | 5,800 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 130 mi northeast | 14,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 144 mi southeast | 17,000 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 Lake Park
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 121 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lake Park, 27 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an EF4 on June 25, 2010, which passed about 19 miles west-southwest of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on April 28, 2025, which touched down about 19 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 375 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 29 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on May 21, 2004.
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 Lake Park'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.
Lake Park radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lake Park, IA?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 71 miles west. KMPX (Minneapolis, MN) is 130 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lake Park?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lake Park the lowest scan from KFSD is about 5,800 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Lake Park 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 Lake Park, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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