Lawton, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lawton, Woodbury County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lawton?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 112 days in the Woodbury forecast zone and Woodbury County — the most common reported hazard around Lawton, mostly in June and July. Next come high winds (41 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (41 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 112 | May 2026 | Jul 20, 2008 · $5.0 million damage |
| High winds | 41 | Mar 2026 | Mar 10, 2005 · $50,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 41 | Nov 2025 | Mar 8, 2002 · $50,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 34 | Aug 2024 | Jul 2, 1999 · $8.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 33 | Jun 2024 | Mar 13, 2019 · $6.8 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 29 | Jun 2026 | Jun 30, 2019 · 1 death |
| Blizzards | 26 | Mar 2026 | Jan 9, 1997 · $50,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 19 | Dec 2025 | — |
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 Woodbury forecast zone and Woodbury County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Lawton get?
A normal year brings about 36 inches of snow to Lawton, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Sioux City Gateway Ap weather station 11.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (8.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 | 3.2 | 7.6 | 7.7 | 8.7 | 5.7 | 2.3 | 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 Lawton?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 81 miles south. 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 Lawton | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 81 mi south | 6,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 82 mi north-northwest | 7,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 136 mi east-southeast | 15,600 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 Lawton
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 104 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lawton, 26 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F4 on July 28, 1986, which passed about 15 miles southwest of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on April 16, 2024, which touched down about 13 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 427 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 44 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on June 29, 2017.
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 Lawton'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.
Lawton radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lawton, IA?
KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 81 miles south. KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD) is 82 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lawton?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lawton the lowest scan from KOAX is about 6,900 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Lawton 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 Lawton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Moville, IA radar 6 mi
- Sergeant Bluff, IA radar 10 mi
- Sioux City, IA radar 10 mi
- Kingsley, IA radar 13 mi
- Sloan, IA radar 17 mi
- Le Mars, IA radar 21 mi
- Remsen, IA radar 26 mi
- Mapleton, IA radar 29 mi
- Marcus, IA radar 31 mi
- Akron, IA radar 31 mi