Ledyard, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Ledyard, Kossuth County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Ledyard?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 84 days in the Kossuth forecast zone and Kossuth County — the most common reported hazard around Ledyard, mostly in June and July. Next come flooding (61 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (61 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 84 | Jul 2025 | May 15, 1998 · $550,000 damage |
| Flooding | 61 | Jul 2024 | Jun 12, 2010 · $40 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 61 | Jan 2024 | Feb 24, 2007 · $250,000 damage |
| High winds | 49 | Mar 2025 | Nov 10, 1998 · $305,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 39 | Mar 2025 | Jan 25, 2010 · 1 death · $75,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 27 | Jan 2025 | Sep 21, 1999 · $294,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 18 | Jun 2024 | Jul 9, 2000 · $800,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 14 | Jan 2023 | Feb 20, 2011 · $50,000 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 Kossuth forecast zone and Kossuth County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Ledyard get?
A normal year brings about 40 inches of snow to Ledyard, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Swea City 5N weather station 7.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (10.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.7 | 3.1 | 8.3 | 10.9 | 8.5 | 4.6 | 3.6 | 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 Ledyard?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 103 miles north-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 Ledyard | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 103 mi north-northeast | 10,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 119 mi south | 12,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 129 mi west | 14,300 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 Ledyard
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 90 tornadoes within 25 miles of Ledyard, 20 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on August 29, 1964, which passed about 21 miles south-southeast of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on August 17, 2025, which touched down about 22 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 283 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 36 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.50-inch hail on June 29, 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 Ledyard'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.
Ledyard radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Ledyard, IA?
KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 103 miles north-northeast. KDMX (Des Moines, IA) is 119 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Ledyard?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Ledyard the lowest scan from KMPX is about 10,100 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Ledyard 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 Ledyard, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Algona, IA radar 24 mi
- Britt, IA radar 29 mi
- Forest City, IA radar 29 mi
- Lake Mills, IA radar 32 mi
- Emmetsburg, IA radar 34 mi
- Estherville, IA radar 34 mi
- Garner, IA radar 36 mi
- Clear Lake, IA radar 44 mi
- Northwood, IA radar 47 mi
- Spirit Lake, IA radar 48 mi