De Soto, WI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for De Soto, Vernon County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits De Soto?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 82 days in the Vernon forecast zone and Vernon County — the most common reported hazard around De Soto, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (76 days) and flooding (63 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 82 | Jun 2026 | Jun 27, 1998 · $233,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 76 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 63 | Jul 2024 | Sep 22, 2016 · 1 death · $986,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 32 | Jun 2024 | Sep 22, 2016 · 1 death · $8.9 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 20 | Jan 2026 | Feb 6, 2021 · 1 death |
| Excessive heat | 13 | Jun 2026 | Jul 2, 2012 · 1 death |
| High winds | 6 | Dec 2021 | Nov 10, 1998 · 1 death · $150,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Mar 2009 | Jan 4, 1998 · $18,000 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 Vernon forecast zone and Vernon County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does De Soto get?
A normal year brings about 35 inches of snow to De Soto, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Genoa Dam 8 weather station 9.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (9.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 1.5 | 8.6 | 9.1 | 9.3 | 4.9 | 1.3 | 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 De Soto?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 27 miles north. 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 De Soto | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 27 mi north | 1,600 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 129 mi south-southeast | 14,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 137 mi east-southeast | 15,700 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 De Soto
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 46 tornadoes within 25 miles of De Soto, 9 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F4 on April 30, 1954, which passed about 17 miles south of town. The most recent was an EF0 on September 22, 2025, which touched down about 15 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 171 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 17 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on April 10, 2011.
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 De Soto'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.
De Soto radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to De Soto, WI?
KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 27 miles north. KDVN (Quad Cities, IA) is 129 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in De Soto?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over De Soto the lowest scan from KARX is about 1,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for De Soto 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 De Soto, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Viroqua, WI radar 18 mi
- Westby, WI radar 23 mi
- Prairie du Chien, WI radar 27 mi
- La Crosse, WI radar 27 mi
- Cashton, WI radar 30 mi
- Boscobel, WI radar 31 mi
- Onalaska, WI radar 32 mi
- West Salem, WI radar 33 mi
- Bangor, WI radar 34 mi
- Holmen, WI radar 38 mi