Iola, TX Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for IolaWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Iola?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 49 days in the Grimes forecast zone and Grimes County — the most common reported hazard around Iola, mostly in April and May. Next come flash flooding (38 days) and excessive heat (13 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds49Aug 2025Apr 27, 2015 · $100,000 damage
Flash flooding38May 2024Apr 18, 2016 · $800,000 damage
Excessive heat13Sep 2023—
Heavy snow & winter storms8Jan 2025Dec 23, 1998 · $15,000 damage
Hurricanes & tropical storms5Aug 2017Aug 25, 2017 · $50 million damage
Ice storms & sleet3Jan 2007Dec 13, 2000 · $50,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage2May 2019Oct 12, 2006 · 1 death · $8,000 damage
Flooding1Oct 1998—

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 Grimes forecast zone and Grimes County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Iola?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGRK (Central Texas, TX), about 78 miles west. 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 IolaView
KGRK
Central Texas, TX		78 mi west6,600 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KHGX
Houston, TX		108 mi southeast10,800 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KEWX
San Antonio, TX		138 mi west-southwest15,900 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 Iola

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 57 tornadoes within 25 miles of Iola, 9 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F3 on May 10, 1959, which passed about 20 miles west-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on October 25, 2025, which passed about 22 miles south-southeast of town.

Hail: 180 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 16 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on January 22, 1999.

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 Iola'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.

Iola radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Iola, TX?

KGRK (Central Texas, TX), about 78 miles west. KHGX (Houston, TX) is 108 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Iola?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Iola the lowest scan from KGRK is about 6,600 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.

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

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