Waterloo, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Waterloo, Black Hawk County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Waterloo?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 118 days in the Black Hawk forecast zone and Black Hawk County — the most common reported hazard around Waterloo, mostly in June and May. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (91 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (49 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 118 | Jul 2025 | Jun 12, 2010 · $20 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 91 | Sep 2025 | Jul 10, 2009 · $750,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 49 | Feb 2026 | Feb 24, 2007 · $2.5 million damage |
| High winds | 38 | Mar 2025 | Oct 26, 2008 · $1.3 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 25 | Jul 2025 | Jul 2, 1999 · $1.3 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 20 | Jan 2025 | Sep 21, 1999 · $294,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 18 | Mar 2025 | Dec 20, 2012 · $250,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 14 | Aug 2025 | Jun 26, 2002 · $1.0 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 Black Hawk forecast zone and Black Hawk County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Waterloo get?
A normal year brings about 39 inches of snow to Waterloo, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Waterloo Muni Ap weather station 5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (10.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 3.1 | 9.9 | 10.1 | 9.3 | 4.6 | 1.7 | 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 Waterloo?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 88 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 Waterloo | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 88 mi southwest | 7,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 109 mi north-northeast | 11,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 109 mi east-southeast | 11,000 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 Waterloo
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 130 tornadoes within 25 miles of Waterloo, 31 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an EF5 on May 25, 2008, which passed about 7 miles north of town and caused 9 deaths. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on August 18, 2025, which passed about 22 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 416 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 58 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on July 16, 2007.
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 Waterloo'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.
Waterloo radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Waterloo, IA?
KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 88 miles southwest. KARX (La Crosse, WI) is 109 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Waterloo?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Waterloo the lowest scan from KDMX is about 7,900 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Waterloo 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 Waterloo, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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