Sandusky, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Sandusky, Lee County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Sandusky?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 101 days in the Lee forecast zone and Lee County — the most common reported hazard around Sandusky, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (59 days) and flooding (49 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 101 | Apr 2026 | Sep 11, 2000 · $1.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 59 | Nov 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 49 | Jun 2019 | Jun 1, 2008 · $4.5 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 29 | Apr 2026 | May 12, 2010 · $859,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 12 | Jan 2019 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 10 | Dec 2024 | Feb 24, 2007 · $227,000 damage |
| High winds | 8 | Dec 2021 | Apr 6, 1997 · $100,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 5 | Mar 2026 | — |
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 Lee forecast zone and Lee County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Sandusky get?
A normal year brings about 18 inches of snow to Sandusky, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Ft Madison weather station 12 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (6.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.8 | 4.3 | 6.1 | 4.6 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 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 Sandusky?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 90 miles north-northeast. 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 Sandusky | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 90 mi north-northeast | 8,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 110 mi east | 11,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KLSX St. Louis, MO | 127 mi south-southeast | 13,900 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 Sandusky
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 87 tornadoes within 25 miles of Sandusky, 19 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and June. The strongest was an F4 on May 13, 1995, which passed about 10 miles north-northeast of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on August 10, 2025, which touched down about 17 miles west of town.
Hail: 260 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 25 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 17, 1992.
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 Sandusky'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.
Sandusky radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Sandusky, IA?
KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 90 miles north-northeast. KILX (Lincoln, IL) is 110 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Sandusky?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Sandusky the lowest scan from KDVN is about 8,300 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Sandusky 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 Sandusky, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Keokuk, IA radar 3 mi
- Fort Madison, IA radar 12 mi
- West Burlington, IA radar 28 mi
- Burlington, IA radar 28 mi
- New London, IA radar 32 mi
- Mount Pleasant, IA radar 36 mi
- Mediapolis, IA radar 40 mi
- Winfield, IA radar 47 mi
- Fairfield, IA radar 49 mi
- Wapello, IA radar 51 mi