Sac City, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Sac City, Sac County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Sac City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 53 days in the Sac forecast zone and Sac County — the most common reported hazard around Sac City, mostly in July and August. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (43 days) and high winds (40 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 53 | Aug 2025 | Aug 8, 2010 · $315,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 43 | Feb 2026 | Feb 24, 2007 · $250,000 damage |
| High winds | 40 | Mar 2025 | Nov 10, 1998 · $305,000 damage |
| Flooding | 32 | Mar 2019 | Jun 12, 2010 · $20 million damage |
| Blizzards | 29 | Mar 2025 | Dec 20, 2012 · $100,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 22 | Jan 2025 | Sep 21, 1999 · $294,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 16 | Jun 2019 | Jul 23, 2010 · $260,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 11 | Jan 2017 | Jan 20, 2010 · $2.5 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 Sac forecast zone and Sac County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Sac City get?
A normal year brings about 31 inches of snow to Sac City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Sac City weather station 1.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (7.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 2.7 | 7.2 | 7.0 | 7.4 | 4.2 | 1.9 | 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 Sac City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 81 miles 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 Sac City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 81 mi southeast | 7,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 104 mi southwest | 10,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 119 mi northwest | 12,600 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 Sac City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 110 tornadoes within 25 miles of Sac City, 29 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on June 28, 1979, which passed about 25 miles northeast of town and caused 3 deaths. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on May 31, 2024, which touched down about 15 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 289 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 34 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 17, 1978.
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 Sac City'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.
Sac City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Sac City, IA?
KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 81 miles southeast. KOAX (Omaha, NE) is 104 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Sac City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Sac City the lowest scan from KDMX is about 7,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Sac City 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 Sac City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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