Spirit Lake, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Spirit Lake, Dickinson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Spirit Lake?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 66 days in the Dickinson forecast zone and Dickinson County — the most common reported hazard around Spirit Lake, mostly in March and April. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (66 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (51 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 66 | Jul 2024 | Jun 1, 2019 · $2.6 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 66 | Jun 2026 | Jul 17, 2010 · $500,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 51 | Nov 2025 | Apr 9, 2013 · $10 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 35 | Dec 2025 | — |
| High winds | 34 | Mar 2026 | Apr 7, 2001 · $200,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 30 | Mar 2026 | Nov 10, 1998 · $23,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 24 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 23 | Jun 2024 | — |
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 Dickinson forecast zone and Dickinson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Spirit Lake get?
A normal year brings about 42 inches of snow to Spirit Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Spirit Lake weather station 1.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (9.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 | 4.2 | 8.0 | 9.5 | 8.2 | 6.0 | 5.1 | 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 Spirit Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 82 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 Spirit Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 82 mi west | 7,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 125 mi northeast | 13,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 136 mi south-southeast | 15,600 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 Spirit Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 114 tornadoes within 25 miles of Spirit Lake, 27 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F3 on May 5, 1964, which passed about 23 miles southwest of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on August 29, 2024, which touched down about 4 miles north of town.
Hail: 362 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 30 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 Spirit Lake'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.
Spirit Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Spirit Lake, IA?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 82 miles west. KMPX (Minneapolis, MN) is 125 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Spirit Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Spirit Lake the lowest scan from KFSD is about 7,100 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Spirit Lake 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 Spirit Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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