Ridgeway, WI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Ridgeway, Iowa County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Ridgeway?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 90 days in the Iowa forecast zone and Iowa County — the most common reported hazard around Ridgeway, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (51 days) and excessive heat (43 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 90 | Jun 2026 | Jun 18, 1998 · $950,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 51 | Nov 2025 | Jan 8, 2024 · $10,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 43 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 39 | Jan 2026 | Feb 5, 2007 · $3,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 13 | Apr 2026 | Jun 1, 2000 · $2.6 million damage |
| High winds | 10 | Mar 2026 | Nov 10, 1998 · $500,000 damage |
| Flooding | 10 | Jul 2025 | Jun 1, 2004 · $2.0 million damage |
| Blizzards | 7 | Mar 2026 | — |
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 Iowa forecast zone and Iowa County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Ridgeway get?
A normal year brings about 41 inches of snow to Ridgeway, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Dodgeville Wwtp weather station 6.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (10.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.6 | 1.9 | 10.3 | 10.3 | 10.6 | 5.9 | 1.5 | 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 Ridgeway?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI), about 73 miles east. 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 Ridgeway | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 73 mi east | 6,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 83 mi northwest | 7,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 100 mi south-southwest | 9,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
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 Ridgeway
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 82 tornadoes within 25 miles of Ridgeway, 29 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F5 on June 7, 1984, which passed about 2 miles southeast of town and caused 9 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on July 16, 2025, which passed about 3 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 203 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 34 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on April 13, 2006.
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 Ridgeway'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.
Ridgeway radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Ridgeway, WI?
KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI), about 73 miles east. KARX (La Crosse, WI) is 83 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Ridgeway?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Ridgeway the lowest scan from KMKX is about 6,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Ridgeway 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 Ridgeway, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Barneveld, WI radar 5 mi
- Dodgeville, WI radar 7 mi
- Spring Green, WI radar 13 mi
- Mount Horeb, WI radar 13 mi
- Mineral Point, WI radar 13 mi
- Black Earth, WI radar 16 mi
- Mazomanie, WI radar 16 mi
- Cross Plains, WI radar 19 mi
- New Glarus, WI radar 22 mi
- Verona, WI radar 23 mi