Weather Preparedness
Emergency: Call 911 if you have an emergency.
Storm damage: If you experience storm damage to your property, contact your local emergency management agency to learn how to report it. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
Uses the selected map location to identify your county. Confirm your local agency’s contact information with the official state agency.
Choose a hazard to learn how to prepare and what to do when it threatens. Keep more than one way to receive local warnings.
Tornadoes
Prepare: Choose a basement or small interior room on the lowest floor. Practice getting there and keep shoes, a flashlight, and a warning source nearby.
If warned: Go to your shelter immediately. Stay away from windows and cover your head and neck. Avoid overpasses and mobile homes.
NWS Tornado Safety ↗Flooding & Flash Floods
Prepare: Know your flood risk, evacuation route, and a place on higher ground. Keep important documents protected and enable local alerts.
If warned: Move to higher ground. Never walk or drive through floodwater. Follow evacuation orders.
FEMA Flood Preparedness ↗Hurricanes & Storm Surge
Prepare: Learn your evacuation zone and route. Secure outdoor items, prepare medications and supplies, and plan for pets and extended power loss.
If threatened: Leave when local officials order evacuation. Stay away from storm surge and floodwater; do not return until officials say it is safe.
NWS Hurricane Planning ↗Severe Thunderstorms & Lightning
Prepare: Charge devices, bring in loose outdoor items, and identify a sturdy indoor shelter away from windows.
If thunder sounds: Go inside a substantial building or hard-topped vehicle. Stay inside until at least 30 minutes after the last thunder.
NWS Lightning Safety ↗Winter Storms & Extreme Cold
Prepare: Stock warm layers, food, water, medications, a flashlight, and a vehicle winter kit. Check heating equipment and carbon monoxide alarms.
If conditions worsen: Avoid unnecessary travel. Keep generators outside, away from doors, windows, and vents.
NWS Winter Preparation ↗Wildfires & Smoke
Prepare: Know two ways out and gather medications, documents, and pet supplies. Clear flammable debris near your home when conditions are safe.
If told to evacuate: Leave promptly. Monitor local smoke and air quality guidance; do not wait to see flames.
NWS Wildfire Readiness ↗Extreme Heat
Prepare: Identify a cool location, plan water breaks, check cooling equipment, and arrange to check on older adults and neighbors.
During heat: Limit strenuous outdoor activity, drink water, and move anyone with signs of heat illness to a cooler place. Call 911 for suspected heat stroke.
NWS Heat Safety ↗Power Outages
Prepare: Keep flashlights, charged backup batteries, and medications ready. Make a backup power plan for medical devices and refrigeration needs.
During an outage: Keep generators outdoors and well away from openings; never use a stove or grill to heat your home. Follow updates from your utility and local emergency officials.
FEMA Power Outage Guidance ↗Follow instructions from local emergency officials. These general tips do not replace local guidance.
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Radar Time & Visibility
Radar Visibility
Showing latest observed NOAA radar.
Past frames are observed snapshots. +1 and +2 hour views are HRRR model simulated radar forecasts, not observed precipitation or official warnings. Forecast location and intensity can change. Source: NOAA/NCEP HRRR via Iowa Environmental Mesonet.