Promise City, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Promise City, Wayne County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Promise City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 59 days in the Wayne forecast zone and Wayne County — the most common reported hazard around Promise City, mostly in May and June. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (44 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (43 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 59 | Jun 2011 | Jun 12, 2010 · $20 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 44 | Aug 2025 | May 21, 1998 · $80,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 43 | Feb 2025 | May 2, 2013 · $100,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 22 | Sep 2019 | Aug 26, 2009 · $2.8 million damage |
| High winds | 18 | Mar 2025 | Nov 10, 1998 · $305,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 16 | Jan 2017 | Dec 10, 2007 · $150,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 13 | Jan 2024 | Sep 21, 1999 · $294,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 7 | Jan 2024 | Dec 9, 2009 · $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 Wayne forecast zone and Wayne County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Promise City get?
A normal year brings about 22 inches of snow to Promise City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Centerville weather station 13.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (7.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 7.1 | 5.0 | 3.2 | 1.7 | 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 Promise City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 74 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 Promise City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 74 mi north-northwest | 6,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 146 mi east-northeast | 17,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KEAX Kansas City, MO | 146 mi south-southwest | 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 Promise City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 75 tornadoes within 25 miles of Promise City, 28 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on June 7, 1984, which passed about 8 miles northwest of town and caused 3 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on April 30, 2024, which touched down about 9 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 217 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 34 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on July 27, 2008.
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 Promise City'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.
Promise City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Promise City, IA?
KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 74 miles north-northwest. KDVN (Quad Cities, IA) is 146 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Promise City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Promise City the lowest scan from KDMX is about 6,200 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Promise City 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 Promise City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Corydon, IA radar 9 mi
- Centerville, IA radar 15 mi
- Chariton, IA radar 20 mi
- Albia, IA radar 26 mi
- Leon, IA radar 32 mi
- Melcher-Dallas, IA radar 33 mi
- Bloomfield, IA radar 38 mi
- Osceola, IA radar 39 mi
- Knoxville, IA radar 40 mi
- Lamoni, IA radar 42 mi