Ottosen, IA Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for OttosenWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Ottosen?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 74 days in the Humboldt forecast zone and Humboldt County — the most common reported hazard around Ottosen, mostly in June and May. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (48 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (47 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Flooding74Jul 2024Jun 12, 2010 · $20 million damage
Heavy snow & winter storms48Jan 2024Feb 24, 2007 · $250,000 damage
Damaging thunderstorm winds47Aug 2025Jul 17, 2010 · $300,000 damage
High winds44Mar 2025Nov 10, 1998 · $305,000 damage
Blizzards34Mar 2025Dec 20, 2012 · $100,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill25Jan 2025Sep 21, 1999 · $294,000 damage
Ice storms & sleet14Jan 2023Dec 23, 2009 · $500,000 damage
Flash flooding8Jul 2019Jul 9, 2000 · $200,000 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 Humboldt forecast zone and Humboldt County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Ottosen?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 87 miles south-southeast. 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 OttosenView
KDMX
Des Moines, IA		87 mi south-southeast7,800 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KFSD
Sioux Falls, SD		128 mi west-northwest14,000 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KMPX
Minneapolis, MN		141 mi north-northeast16,400 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 Ottosen

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 114 tornadoes within 25 miles of Ottosen, 29 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and April. The strongest was an F4 on June 28, 1979, which passed about 22 miles south-southwest of town and caused 3 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on June 26, 2025, which touched down about 16 miles east of town.

Hail: 319 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 41 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on August 4, 1995.

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 Ottosen'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.

Ottosen radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Ottosen, IA?

KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 87 miles south-southeast. KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD) is 128 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Ottosen?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Ottosen the lowest scan from KDMX is about 7,800 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.

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

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