Magnolia, IA Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Magnolia, Harrison County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for Magnolia What TALON shows

What weather hits Magnolia?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 97 days in the Harrison forecast zone and Harrison County — the most common reported hazard around Magnolia, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (58 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (49 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds	97	May 2026	Aug 4, 1996 · $350,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms	58	Feb 2026	Oct 25, 1997 · $900,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill	49	Jan 2026	—
High winds	24	Mar 2026	—
Excessive heat	20	Jun 2026	—
Flooding	19	Jul 2024	Jun 21, 1996 · $32 million damage
Blizzards	14	Mar 2025	—
Flash flooding	10	Jun 2024	May 5, 2007 · $15 million 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 Harrison forecast zone and Harrison County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

How much snow does Magnolia get?

A normal year brings about 29 inches of snow to Magnolia, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Logan weather station 5.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (7.9 in).

Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May
0.6	2.2	6.6	7.9	6.4	4.1	0.9	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 Magnolia?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 36 miles southwest. 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 Magnolia	View
KOAX Omaha, NE	36 mi southwest	2,300 ft	Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KDMX Des Moines, IA	111 mi east	11,300 ft	Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KFSD Sioux Falls, SD	138 mi north-northwest	15,900 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 Magnolia

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 98 tornadoes within 25 miles of Magnolia, 24 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on June 26, 1976, which passed about 22 miles southeast of town. The most recent was an EF3 on April 17, 2025, which passed about 19 miles south of town.

Hail: 336 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 53 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.75-inch hail on June 3, 2014.

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 Magnolia'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.

Magnolia radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Magnolia, IA?

KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 36 miles southwest. KDMX (Des Moines, IA) is 111 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Magnolia?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Magnolia the lowest scan from KOAX is about 2,300 ft up.

Is TALON's radar for Magnolia 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 Magnolia, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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