Ringsted, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Ringsted, Emmet County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Ringsted?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 71 days in the Emmet forecast zone and Emmet County — the most common reported hazard around Ringsted, mostly in May and April. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (64 days) and high winds (55 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 71 | Jul 2024 | Jun 12, 2010 · $20 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 64 | Jul 2025 | Jul 18, 1998 · $225,000 damage |
| High winds | 55 | Feb 2026 | Nov 10, 1998 · $305,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 52 | Jan 2024 | Feb 24, 2007 · $250,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 36 | Mar 2025 | Mar 1, 2007 · $100,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 28 | Jan 2025 | Jan 18, 2001 · 1 death |
| Ice storms & sleet | 13 | Jan 2023 | Nov 14, 1996 · $150,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 12 | Jul 2016 | Jun 19, 2014 · $505,000 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 Emmet forecast zone and Emmet County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Ringsted get?
A normal year brings about 40 inches of snow to Ringsted, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Swea City 5N weather station 14.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (10.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.7 | 3.1 | 8.3 | 10.9 | 8.5 | 4.6 | 3.6 | 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 Ringsted?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 113 miles west. 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 Ringsted | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 113 mi west | 11,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 115 mi south-southeast | 11,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 117 mi north-northeast | 12,300 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 Ringsted
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 77 tornadoes within 25 miles of Ringsted, 18 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F3 on June 28, 1979, which passed about 13 miles east-southeast of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on May 21, 2024, which touched down about 23 miles north of town.
Hail: 306 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 42 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 29, 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 Ringsted'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.
Ringsted radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Ringsted, IA?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 113 miles west. KDMX (Des Moines, IA) is 115 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Ringsted?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Ringsted the lowest scan from KFSD is about 11,600 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Ringsted 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 Ringsted, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Emmetsburg, IA radar 15 mi
- Estherville, IA radar 18 mi
- Algona, IA radar 21 mi
- Spirit Lake, IA radar 32 mi
- Arnolds Park, IA radar 32 mi
- Milford, IA radar 32 mi
- Spencer, IA radar 34 mi
- Laurens, IA radar 35 mi
- Britt, IA radar 38 mi
- Pocahontas, IA radar 39 mi