Dakota City, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Dakota City, Dakota County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Dakota City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 42 days in the Dakota forecast zone and Dakota County — the most common reported hazard around Dakota City, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (39 days) and high winds (32 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 42 | Jul 2024 | Jul 16, 1996 · $6.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 39 | Jan 2024 | — |
| High winds | 32 | Mar 2026 | Oct 29, 1996 · $80,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 26 | Jun 2026 | Jul 28, 1999 · 1 death |
| Blizzards | 23 | Mar 2026 | Nov 10, 1998 · $25,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 18 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 14 | Jul 2024 | Jul 16, 1996 · $1.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 13 | Jun 2024 | Mar 13, 2019 · $1.5 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 Dakota forecast zone and Dakota County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Dakota City get?
A normal year brings about 36 inches of snow to Dakota City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Sioux City Gateway Ap weather station 2.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (8.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 | 3.2 | 7.6 | 7.7 | 8.7 | 5.7 | 2.3 | 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 Dakota City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 76 miles south. 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 Dakota City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 76 mi south | 6,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 82 mi north | 7,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 146 mi east-southeast | 17,400 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 Dakota City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 107 tornadoes within 25 miles of Dakota City, 26 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an EF4 on October 4, 2013, which passed about 24 miles west of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on April 16, 2024, which touched down about 16 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 400 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 42 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on June 29, 2017.
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 Dakota City'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.
Dakota City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Dakota City, NE?
KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 76 miles south. KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD) is 82 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Dakota City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Dakota City the lowest scan from KOAX is about 6,400 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Dakota City 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 Dakota City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- South Sioux City, NE radar 3 mi
- Wakefield, NE radar 25 mi
- Pender, NE radar 26 mi
- Wayne, NE radar 33 mi
- Wisner, NE radar 39 mi
- Oakland, NE radar 40 mi
- West Point, NE radar 43 mi
- Hartington, NE radar 45 mi
- Tekamah, NE radar 45 mi
- Stanton, NE radar 52 mi