St. Lucas, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for St. Lucas, Fayette County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits St. Lucas?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 67 days in the Fayette forecast zone and Fayette County — the most common reported hazard around St. Lucas, mostly in January and February. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (66 days) and flooding (32 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 67 | Feb 2026 | Feb 23, 2007 · $75,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 66 | Jul 2025 | Jun 22, 2015 · $3.1 million damage |
| Flooding | 32 | Aug 2025 | Jun 7, 2008 · $5.3 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 28 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 24 | Jun 2024 | Jul 22, 2017 · $9.6 million damage |
| Blizzards | 19 | Mar 2026 | Dec 10, 2010 · $2,000 damage |
| High winds | 14 | Mar 2026 | Nov 10, 1998 · $180,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 13 | Jun 2026 | Jul 17, 2011 · $27,000 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 Fayette forecast zone and Fayette County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does St. Lucas get?
A normal year brings about 41 inches of snow to St. Lucas, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Fayette weather station 13.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (10.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 2.7 | 10.2 | 10.8 | 9.9 | 5.4 | 1.8 | 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 St. Lucas?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 64 miles 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 St. Lucas | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 64 mi northeast | 5,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 122 mi southeast | 13,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 130 mi southwest | 14,400 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 St. Lucas
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 85 tornadoes within 25 miles of St. Lucas, 19 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F5 on May 15, 1968, which passed about 16 miles south-southeast of town and caused 5 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on August 5, 2024, which touched down about 23 miles north of town.
Hail: 232 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 24 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on July 24, 2009.
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 St. Lucas'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.
St. Lucas radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to St. Lucas, IA?
KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 64 miles northeast. KDVN (Quad Cities, IA) is 122 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in St. Lucas?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over St. Lucas the lowest scan from KARX is about 5,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for St. Lucas 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 St. Lucas, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Calmar, IA radar 9 mi
- West Union, IA radar 10 mi
- Fayette, IA radar 17 mi
- Sumner, IA radar 17 mi
- Decorah, IA radar 18 mi
- Postville, IA radar 19 mi
- New Hampton, IA radar 19 mi
- Cresco, IA radar 23 mi
- Tripoli, IA radar 24 mi
- Waukon, IA radar 27 mi