Merrill, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Merrill, Plymouth County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Merrill?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 81 days in the Plymouth forecast zone and Plymouth County — the most common reported hazard around Merrill, mostly in June and April. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (75 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (42 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 81 | Jul 2025 | Mar 13, 2019 · $2.3 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 75 | Jul 2025 | Jun 23, 2003 · $100,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 42 | Jan 2024 | — |
| High winds | 28 | Dec 2025 | Apr 7, 2001 · $50,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 28 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 25 | Mar 2026 | Dec 8, 2009 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 21 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 20 | May 2026 | Jun 22, 2010 · $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 Plymouth forecast zone and Plymouth County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Merrill get?
A normal year brings about 31 inches of snow to Merrill, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Le Mars weather station 6.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (7.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 | 2.6 | 6.0 | 7.8 | 7.5 | 4.6 | 1.9 | 0.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Merrill?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 65 miles north-northwest. 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 Merrill | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 65 mi north-northwest | 5,100 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 97 mi south | 9,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 146 mi east-southeast | 17,500 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 Merrill
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 123 tornadoes within 25 miles of Merrill, 31 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on June 23, 1952, which passed about 21 miles east of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 31, 2024, which touched down about 23 miles northeast of town.
Hail: 421 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 43 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on June 29, 2017.
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 Merrill'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.
Merrill radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Merrill, IA?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 65 miles north-northwest. KOAX (Omaha, NE) is 97 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Merrill?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Merrill the lowest scan from KFSD is about 5,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Merrill 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 Merrill, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Le Mars, IA radar 6 mi
- Remsen, IA radar 16 mi
- Sioux City, IA radar 17 mi
- Akron, IA radar 17 mi
- Kingsley, IA radar 17 mi
- Moville, IA radar 18 mi
- Orange City, IA radar 22 mi
- Alton, IA radar 22 mi
- Hawarden, IA radar 23 mi
- Sergeant Bluff, IA radar 23 mi