Rochester, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Rochester, Cedar County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Rochester?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 96 days in the Cedar forecast zone and Cedar County — the most common reported hazard around Rochester, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (87 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (16 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 96 | Jun 2026 | May 10, 1996 · $250,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 87 | Nov 2025 | Jan 10, 2020 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 16 | Jan 2019 | — |
| Flash flooding | 15 | Jun 2026 | Apr 17, 2013 · $250,000 damage |
| Flooding | 13 | Sep 2016 | Jun 1, 2008 · $3.5 million damage |
| High winds | 11 | Feb 2019 | Jun 10, 2003 · $150,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 9 | Mar 2026 | Jan 22, 2005 · $5,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 7 | Dec 2024 | Feb 24, 2007 · $1.0 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 Cedar forecast zone and Cedar County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Rochester get?
A normal year brings about 29 inches of snow to Rochester, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Muscatine 2N weather station 14.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (8.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 1.4 | 7.4 | 7.0 | 8.6 | 4.0 | 0.7 | 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 Rochester?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 29 miles east. 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 Rochester | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 29 mi east | 1,800 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 133 mi west | 15,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 141 mi southeast | 16,500 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 Rochester
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 157 tornadoes within 25 miles of Rochester, 42 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F4 on April 11, 1965, which passed about 16 miles northeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF2 on July 11, 2025, which passed about 25 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 327 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 37 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on June 8, 2018.
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 Rochester'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.
Rochester radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Rochester, IA?
KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 29 miles east. KDMX (Des Moines, IA) is 133 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Rochester?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Rochester the lowest scan from KDVN is about 1,800 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Rochester 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 Rochester, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Tipton, IA radar 7 mi
- Wilton, IA radar 8 mi
- West Liberty, IA radar 9 mi
- West Branch, IA radar 10 mi
- Durant, IA radar 13 mi
- Muscatine, IA radar 18 mi
- Lone Tree, IA radar 20 mi
- Walcott, IA radar 20 mi
- Iowa City, IA radar 20 mi
- Solon, IA radar 20 mi