Van Meter, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Van Meter, Dallas County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Van Meter?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 116 days in the Dallas forecast zone and Dallas County — the most common reported hazard around Van Meter, mostly in June and May. Next come flooding (99 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (57 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 116 | Aug 2025 | Jun 29, 1998 · $5.4 million damage |
| Flooding | 99 | Jun 2022 | Jun 12, 2010 · $20 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 57 | Feb 2026 | Oct 26, 1997 · $6.2 million damage |
| High winds | 34 | May 2025 | Nov 10, 1998 · $305,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 32 | Apr 2022 | Jun 22, 2007 · $350,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 18 | Jan 2025 | Sep 21, 1999 · $294,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 16 | Mar 2025 | Dec 20, 2012 · $500,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 12 | Jan 2017 | Dec 23, 2009 · $500,000 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 Dallas forecast zone and Dallas County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Van Meter get?
A normal year brings about 31 inches of snow to Van Meter, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Winterset 1S weather station 15 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (8.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.9 | 2.7 | 5.9 | 7.3 | 8.3 | 4.7 | 0.8 | 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 Van Meter?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 18 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 Van Meter | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 18 mi northeast | 1,000 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 126 mi west | 13,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 174 mi east | 23,200 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 Van Meter
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 174 tornadoes within 25 miles of Van Meter, 30 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an EF4 on March 5, 2022, which passed about 11 miles south-southeast of town and caused 6 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on July 15, 2024, which passed about 13 miles northeast of town.
Hail: 809 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 65 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on July 3, 2001.
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 Van Meter'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.
Van Meter radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Van Meter, IA?
KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 18 miles northeast. KOAX (Omaha, NE) is 126 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Van Meter?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Van Meter the lowest scan from KDMX is about 1,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Van Meter 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 Van Meter, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Waukee, IA radar 6 mi
- Adel, IA radar 7 mi
- West Des Moines, IA radar 9 mi
- Earlham, IA radar 9 mi
- Clive, IA radar 10 mi
- Dallas Center, IA radar 11 mi
- Urbandale, IA radar 11 mi
- Winterset, IA radar 13 mi
- Grimes, IA radar 13 mi
- Windsor Heights, IA radar 13 mi