Lime Springs, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lime Springs, Howard County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lime Springs?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 64 days in the Howard forecast zone and Howard County — the most common reported hazard around Lime Springs, mostly in February and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (48 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (31 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 64 | Feb 2026 | Feb 23, 2007 · $80,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 48 | Jul 2025 | Sep 2, 2011 · $7.5 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 31 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 19 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 19 | Jun 2020 | Jun 1, 2000 · $425,000 damage |
| High winds | 16 | Mar 2026 | Nov 10, 1998 · $185,000 damage |
| Flooding | 14 | Jun 2024 | Jun 7, 2008 · $1.8 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 12 | Jun 2026 | Jul 17, 2011 · $15,000 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 Howard forecast zone and Howard County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Lime Springs get?
A normal year brings about 40 inches of snow to Lime Springs, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Cresco 1 Ne weather station 10.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (10.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 2.6 | 9.5 | 9.4 | 10.0 | 6.0 | 2.4 | 0.2 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Lime Springs?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 60 miles east-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 Lime Springs | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 60 mi east-northeast | 4,600 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 116 mi north-northwest | 12,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 140 mi south-southwest | 16,200 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 Lime Springs
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 93 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lime Springs, 19 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F5 on May 15, 1968, which passed about 3 miles west-northwest of town and caused 13 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on August 5, 2024, which touched down about 19 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 178 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 16 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on July 20, 1998.
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 Lime Springs'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.
Lime Springs radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lime Springs, IA?
KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 60 miles east-northeast. KMPX (Minneapolis, MN) is 116 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lime Springs?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lime Springs the lowest scan from KARX is about 4,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Lime Springs 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 Lime Springs, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- New Hampton, IA radar 27 mi
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- Osage, IA radar 29 mi
- St. Ansgar, IA radar 32 mi
- Charles City, IA radar 33 mi
- Nashua, IA radar 37 mi
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