Pella, IA Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for PellaWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Pella?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 93 days in the Marion forecast zone and Marion County — the most common reported hazard around Pella, mostly in June and May. Next come flooding (84 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (53 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds93Jun 2025Jun 21, 1997 · $1.0 million damage
Flooding84Jul 2024Jun 12, 2010 · $20 million damage
Heavy snow & winter storms53Feb 2025Oct 26, 1997 · $3.2 million damage
High winds32Mar 2025Nov 10, 1998 · $305,000 damage
Flash flooding23Jul 2024Jun 23, 2000 · $300,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill15Jan 2025Sep 21, 1999 · $294,000 damage
Blizzards13Mar 2025Dec 20, 2012 · $100,000 damage
Ice storms & sleet11Jan 2017Jan 20, 2010 · $100,000 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 Marion forecast zone and Marion County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Pella?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 47 miles west-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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over PellaView
KDMX
Des Moines, IA		47 mi west-northwest3,300 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KDVN
Quad Cities, IA		122 mi east13,000 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KOAX
Omaha, NE		179 mi west24,300 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 Pella

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 117 tornadoes within 25 miles of Pella, 24 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an EF4 on March 5, 2022, which passed about 22 miles north-northwest of town and caused 6 deaths. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 25, 2024, which touched down about 24 miles north-northwest of town.

Hail: 361 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 60 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.75-inch hail on May 8, 2003.

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 Pella'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.

Pella radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Pella, IA?

KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 47 miles west-northwest. KDVN (Quad Cities, IA) is 122 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Pella?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Pella the lowest scan from KDMX is about 3,300 ft up.

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

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