Portsmouth, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Portsmouth, Shelby County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Portsmouth?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 65 days in the Shelby forecast zone and Shelby County — the most common reported hazard around Portsmouth, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (49 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (45 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 65 | Aug 2025 | Jun 9, 1999 · $400,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 49 | Feb 2026 | Oct 25, 1997 · $1.6 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 45 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 22 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 22 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 13 | Mar 2025 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 3 | Jan 2010 | — |
| Flash flooding | 3 | Jun 2014 | Jun 30, 2014 · $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 Shelby forecast zone and Shelby County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Portsmouth get?
A normal year brings about 30 inches of snow to Portsmouth, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Harlan weather station 9.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (7.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.9 | 2.2 | 6.7 | 7.6 | 7.6 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 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 Portsmouth?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 49 miles west-southwest. 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 Portsmouth | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 49 mi west-southwest | 3,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 93 mi east | 8,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 147 mi north-northwest | 17,600 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 Portsmouth
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 99 tornadoes within 25 miles of Portsmouth, 25 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on June 26, 1976, which passed about 12 miles south of town. The most recent was an EF1 on May 24, 2024, which touched down about 20 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 289 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 35 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 26, 1993.
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 Portsmouth'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.
Portsmouth radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Portsmouth, IA?
KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 49 miles west-southwest. KDMX (Des Moines, IA) is 93 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Portsmouth?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Portsmouth the lowest scan from KOAX is about 3,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Harlan, IA radar 10 mi
- Woodbine, IA radar 12 mi
- Logan, IA radar 14 mi
- Dunlap, IA radar 15 mi
- Avoca, IA radar 15 mi
- Missouri Valley, IA radar 21 mi
- Oakland, IA radar 24 mi
- Denison, IA radar 27 mi
- Treynor, IA radar 29 mi
- Manning, IA radar 30 mi