Red Oak, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Red Oak, Montgomery County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Red Oak?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 60 days in the Montgomery forecast zone and Montgomery County — the most common reported hazard around Red Oak, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (42 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (32 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 60 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 42 | Feb 2025 | Oct 25, 1997 · $850,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 32 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Excessive heat | 30 | Jun 2026 | — |
| High winds | 20 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 20 | Mar 2019 | Jun 14, 1998 · $2.0 million damage |
| Blizzards | 9 | Mar 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 7 | May 2019 | May 7, 2007 · $1.1 million 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 Montgomery forecast zone and Montgomery County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Red Oak get?
A normal year brings about 27 inches of snow to Red Oak, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Red Oak weather station 1.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (8.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 1.2 | 6.5 | 7.3 | 8.1 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 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 Red Oak?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 63 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.
| Radar | Distance | Lowest beam over Red Oak | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 63 mi west-northwest | 4,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 92 mi east-northeast | 8,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KTWX Topeka, KS | 149 mi south-southwest | 18,000 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 Red Oak
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 125 tornadoes within 25 miles of Red Oak, 35 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an EF4 on May 21, 2024, which passed about 17 miles east-southeast of town and caused 5 deaths. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on July 11, 2025, which touched down about 20 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 325 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 49 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on March 19, 2020.
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 Red Oak'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.
Red Oak radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Red Oak, IA?
KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 63 miles west-northwest. KDMX (Des Moines, IA) is 92 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Red Oak?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Red Oak the lowest scan from KOAX is about 4,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Red Oak 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 Red Oak, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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