Morning Sun, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Morning Sun, Louisa County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Morning Sun?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 70 days in the Louisa forecast zone and Louisa County — the most common reported hazard around Morning Sun, mostly in January and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (51 days) and flooding (48 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 70 | Nov 2025 | Jan 4, 2004 · $5,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 51 | Apr 2026 | Jun 29, 1998 · 1 death · $1.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 48 | Jul 2024 | Jun 1, 2008 · $19 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 20 | Jun 2026 | Jun 14, 2008 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 12 | Jan 2019 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 10 | Dec 2024 | Feb 24, 2007 · $1.1 million damage |
| High winds | 6 | Oct 2008 | Apr 6, 1997 · $100,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 6 | Mar 2026 | — |
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 Louisa forecast zone and Louisa County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Morning Sun get?
A normal year brings about 36 inches of snow to Morning Sun, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Wapello weather station 6.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (10.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 1.1 | 8.6 | 10.1 | 9.4 | 5.1 | 1.0 | 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 Morning Sun?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 50 miles 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 Morning Sun | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 50 mi northeast | 3,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 120 mi east-southeast | 12,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 135 mi west-northwest | 15,400 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 Morning Sun
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 99 tornadoes within 25 miles of Morning Sun, 27 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an EF3 on June 1, 2007, which passed about 12 miles north-northeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on June 3, 2025, which touched down about 14 miles east-northeast of town.
Hail: 267 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 27 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on April 8, 2020.
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 Morning Sun'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.
Morning Sun radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Morning Sun, IA?
KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 50 miles northeast. KILX (Lincoln, IL) is 120 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Morning Sun?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Morning Sun the lowest scan from KDVN is about 3,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Morning Sun 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 Morning Sun, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Wapello, IA radar 7 mi
- Mediapolis, IA radar 7 mi
- Winfield, IA radar 10 mi
- Columbus Junction, IA radar 14 mi
- New London, IA radar 14 mi
- Mount Pleasant, IA radar 18 mi
- West Burlington, IA radar 19 mi
- Burlington, IA radar 21 mi
- Muscatine, IA radar 24 mi
- Washington, IA radar 27 mi