Ruthven, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Ruthven, Palo Alto County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Ruthven?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 54 days in the Palo Alto forecast zone and Palo Alto County — the most common reported hazard around Ruthven, mostly in January and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (50 days) and high winds (44 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 54 | Jan 2024 | Feb 24, 2007 · $250,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 50 | Jul 2025 | Dec 15, 2021 · $500,000 damage |
| High winds | 44 | Mar 2025 | Nov 10, 1998 · $305,000 damage |
| Flooding | 43 | Jul 2024 | Jun 12, 2010 · $20 million damage |
| Blizzards | 34 | Mar 2025 | Mar 1, 2007 · $100,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 26 | Jan 2025 | Sep 21, 1999 · $294,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 14 | Jun 2018 | Jul 26, 1997 · $170,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 12 | Jan 2023 | Jan 20, 2010 · $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 Palo Alto forecast zone and Palo Alto County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Ruthven get?
A normal year brings about 37 inches of snow to Ruthven, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Emmetsburg weather station 11 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (8.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 4.9 | 7.1 | 8.0 | 8.2 | 5.9 | 2.6 | 0.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Ruthven?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 97 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 Ruthven | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 97 mi west-northwest | 9,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 114 mi south-southeast | 11,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 136 mi north-northeast | 15,500 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 Ruthven
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 110 tornadoes within 25 miles of Ruthven, 29 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F3 on March 21, 1953, which passed about 17 miles northeast of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on May 13, 2023, which touched down about 22 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 418 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 57 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on August 4, 1995.
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 Ruthven'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.
Ruthven radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Ruthven, IA?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 97 miles west-northwest. KDMX (Des Moines, IA) is 114 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Ruthven?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Ruthven the lowest scan from KFSD is about 9,200 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Ruthven 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 Ruthven, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Emmetsburg, IA radar 11 mi
- Spencer, IA radar 13 mi
- Estherville, IA radar 19 mi
- Milford, IA radar 19 mi
- Arnolds Park, IA radar 20 mi
- Laurens, IA radar 20 mi
- Spirit Lake, IA radar 23 mi
- Hartley, IA radar 29 mi
- Pocahontas, IA radar 30 mi
- Lake Park, IA radar 31 mi