Vail, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Vail, Crawford County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Vail?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 67 days in the Crawford forecast zone and Crawford County — the most common reported hazard around Vail, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (42 days) and high winds (36 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 67 | Aug 2025 | Jul 10, 2002 · $2.5 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 42 | Feb 2026 | Feb 24, 2007 · $250,000 damage |
| High winds | 36 | Mar 2025 | Nov 10, 1998 · $305,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 22 | Mar 2025 | Dec 20, 2012 · $100,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 18 | Jan 2025 | Sep 21, 1999 · $294,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 13 | Aug 2014 | Jun 21, 1996 · $11 million damage |
| Flooding | 11 | Mar 2019 | Jun 12, 2010 · $20 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 11 | Jan 2017 | Jan 20, 2010 · $2.0 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 Crawford forecast zone and Crawford County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Vail get?
A normal year brings about 35 inches of snow to Vail, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Denison weather station 6.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (9.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 2.4 | 7.9 | 8.1 | 9.2 | 4.7 | 1.6 | 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 Vail?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 79 miles southwest. 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 Vail | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 79 mi southwest | 6,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 79 mi east-southeast | 6,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 131 mi northwest | 14,600 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 Vail
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 102 tornadoes within 25 miles of Vail, 26 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on May 27, 1995, which passed about 15 miles east of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 24, 2024, which touched down about 23 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 266 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 32 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 26, 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 Vail'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.
Vail radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Vail, IA?
KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 79 miles southwest. KDMX (Des Moines, IA) is 79 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Vail?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Vail the lowest scan from KOAX is about 6,800 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Vail 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 Vail, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Denison, IA radar 8 mi
- Manning, IA radar 13 mi
- Carroll, IA radar 17 mi
- Lake View, IA radar 19 mi
- Ida Grove, IA radar 24 mi
- Glidden, IA radar 24 mi
- Dunlap, IA radar 25 mi
- Sac City, IA radar 27 mi
- Audubon, IA radar 27 mi
- Lake City, IA radar 28 mi