Wallingford, IA Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Wallingford, Emmet County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

What weather hits Wallingford?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 71 days in the Emmet forecast zone and Emmet County — the most common reported hazard around Wallingford, mostly in May and April. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (64 days) and high winds (55 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Flooding71Jul 2024Jun 12, 2010 · $20 million damage
Damaging thunderstorm winds64Jul 2025Jul 18, 1998 · $225,000 damage
High winds55Feb 2026Nov 10, 1998 · $305,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms52Jan 2024Feb 24, 2007 · $250,000 damage
Blizzards36Mar 2025Mar 1, 2007 · $100,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill28Jan 2025Jan 18, 2001 · 1 death
Ice storms & sleet13Jan 2023Nov 14, 1996 · $150,000 damage
Flash flooding12Jul 2016Jun 19, 2014 · $505,000 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 Emmet forecast zone and Emmet County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Wallingford?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 99 miles west-northwest. 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over WallingfordView
KFSD
Sioux Falls, SD
99 mi west-northwest9,400 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KMPX
Minneapolis, MN
122 mi north-northeast13,100 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KDMX
Des Moines, IA
123 mi south-southeast13,200 ftLimited — 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 Wallingford

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 95 tornadoes within 25 miles of Wallingford, 25 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F3 on March 21, 1953, which passed about 9 miles east-southeast of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on August 29, 2024, which touched down about 19 miles northwest of town.

Hail: 348 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 39 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 Wallingford'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.

Wallingford radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Wallingford, IA?

KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 99 miles west-northwest. KMPX (Minneapolis, MN) is 122 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Wallingford?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Wallingford the lowest scan from KFSD is about 9,400 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.

Is TALON's radar for Wallingford 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 Wallingford, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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