Little Cedar, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Little Cedar, Mitchell County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Little Cedar?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 66 days in the Mitchell forecast zone and Mitchell County — the most common reported hazard around Little Cedar, mostly in January and February. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (41 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (29 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 66 | Nov 2025 | Feb 23, 2007 · $125,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 41 | Jul 2025 | Sep 2, 2011 · $41 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 29 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 21 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 20 | Jun 2024 | Jun 7, 2008 · $2.7 million damage |
| High winds | 17 | Mar 2026 | Nov 10, 1998 · $200,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 16 | Aug 2021 | May 19, 2013 · $25 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 12 | Jun 2026 | Jul 17, 2011 · $70,000 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 Mitchell forecast zone and Mitchell County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Little Cedar get?
A normal year brings about 40 inches of snow to Little Cedar, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Osage weather station 8.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (9.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 1.9 | 9.6 | 9.9 | 9.2 | 6.2 | 2.2 | 0.4 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Little Cedar?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 83 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 Little Cedar | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 83 mi east-northeast | 7,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 110 mi north-northwest | 11,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 125 mi south-southwest | 13,500 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 Little Cedar
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 122 tornadoes within 25 miles of Little Cedar, 28 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F5 on May 15, 1968, which passed about 11 miles southeast of town and caused 13 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on August 5, 2024, which touched down about 21 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 252 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 26 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.75-inch hail on June 8, 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 Little Cedar'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.
Little Cedar radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Little Cedar, IA?
KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 83 miles east-northeast. KMPX (Minneapolis, MN) is 110 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Little Cedar?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Little Cedar the lowest scan from KARX is about 7,200 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Little Cedar 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 Little Cedar, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Osage, IA radar 8 mi
- St. Ansgar, IA radar 10 mi
- Nora Springs, IA radar 22 mi
- Charles City, IA radar 22 mi
- Manly, IA radar 25 mi
- Northwood, IA radar 25 mi
- Mason City, IA radar 29 mi
- New Hampton, IA radar 30 mi
- Cresco, IA radar 31 mi
- Nashua, IA radar 31 mi