Ralston, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Ralston, Greene County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Ralston?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 53 days in the Greene forecast zone and Greene County — the most common reported hazard around Ralston, mostly in January and February. Next come flooding (47 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (46 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 53 | Feb 2026 | Feb 24, 2007 · $250,000 damage |
| Flooding | 47 | May 2019 | Jun 12, 2010 · $20 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 46 | Aug 2025 | Apr 13, 2018 · $150,000 damage |
| High winds | 37 | Mar 2025 | Nov 10, 1998 · $305,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 19 | Jan 2025 | Sep 21, 1999 · $294,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 19 | Mar 2025 | Dec 20, 2012 · $100,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 11 | Jan 2017 | Dec 23, 2009 · $1.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 10 | Sep 2015 | Jun 12, 2001 · $160,000 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 Greene forecast zone and Greene County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Ralston get?
A normal year brings about 32 inches of snow to Ralston, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Jefferson weather station 12.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (8.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.6 | 1.5 | 7.5 | 8.2 | 8.2 | 4.8 | 0.9 | 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 Ralston?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 51 miles east-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.
| Radar | Distance | Lowest beam over Ralston | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 51 mi east-southeast | 3,700 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 103 mi west-southwest | 10,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 151 mi northwest | 18,300 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 Ralston
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 118 tornadoes within 25 miles of Ralston, 29 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and August. The strongest was an F4 on June 9, 1954, which passed about 17 miles north-northwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on April 16, 2024, which passed about 20 miles north of town.
Hail: 324 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 35 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on June 30, 2014.
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 Ralston'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.
Ralston radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Ralston, IA?
KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 51 miles east-southeast. KOAX (Omaha, NE) is 103 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Ralston?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Ralston the lowest scan from KDMX is about 3,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Ralston 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 Ralston, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Glidden, IA radar 5 mi
- Coon Rapids, IA radar 12 mi
- Carroll, IA radar 12 mi
- Jefferson, IA radar 13 mi
- Lake City, IA radar 16 mi
- Manning, IA radar 24 mi
- Rockwell City, IA radar 25 mi
- Guthrie Center, IA radar 26 mi
- Audubon, IA radar 27 mi
- Lake View, IA radar 28 mi