Menlo, IA Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for MenloWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Menlo?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 76 days in the Guthrie forecast zone and Guthrie County — the most common reported hazard around Menlo, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (43 days) and flooding (38 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds76Jul 2025Jul 10, 2002 · $2.1 million damage
Heavy snow & winter storms43Feb 2026Oct 26, 1997 · $3.2 million damage
Flooding38Jun 2022Jun 12, 2010 · $20 million damage
High winds34Mar 2025Nov 10, 1998 · $305,000 damage
Flash flooding18May 2024May 24, 2007 · $600,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill16Jan 2025Sep 21, 1999 · $294,000 damage
Blizzards15Mar 2025Dec 20, 2012 · $100,000 damage
Ice storms & sleet12Jan 2017Dec 23, 2009 · $1.0 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 Guthrie forecast zone and Guthrie County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Menlo?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 38 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over MenloView
KDMX
Des Moines, IA		38 mi east-northeast2,500 ftExcellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KOAX
Omaha, NE		103 mi west10,000 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KFSD
Sioux Falls, SD		185 mi northwest25,700 ftLimited — 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 Menlo

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 121 tornadoes within 25 miles of Menlo, 28 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F5 on June 27, 1953, which touched down about 16 miles west-southwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF4 on May 21, 2024, which passed about 13 miles south of town.

Hail: 439 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 49 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on July 2, 1999.

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 Menlo'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.

Menlo radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Menlo, IA?

KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 38 miles east-northeast. KOAX (Omaha, NE) is 103 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Menlo?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Menlo the lowest scan from KDMX is about 2,500 ft up.

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

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