Cedar Vale, KS Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Cedar Vale, Chautauqua County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Cedar Vale?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 90 days in the Chautauqua forecast zone and Chautauqua County — the most common reported hazard around Cedar Vale, mostly in May and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (30 days) and flash flooding (17 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 90 | Apr 2026 | May 31, 2013 · $100,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 30 | Jan 2026 | Jan 1, 1999 · $300,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 17 | Aug 2025 | Jun 11, 2007 · $100,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 14 | Jul 2021 | — |
| Flooding | 13 | May 2020 | Oct 8, 2018 · $200 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Oct 2020 | — |
| High winds | 4 | Mar 2025 | Jun 20, 1998 · $2,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 2 | Feb 2011 | — |
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 Chautauqua forecast zone and Chautauqua County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Cedar Vale get?
A normal year brings about 8.5 inches of snow to Cedar Vale, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Cedar Vale 5Sse weather station 5.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (3.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.3 | 3.1 | 2.1 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 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 Cedar Vale?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KICT (Wichita, KS), about 64 miles northwest. 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 Cedar Vale | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KICT Wichita, KS | 64 mi northwest | 5,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KINX Tulsa, OK | 83 mi southeast | 7,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KVNX Vance AFB, OK | 93 mi west-southwest | 8,600 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 Cedar Vale
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 95 tornadoes within 25 miles of Cedar Vale, 15 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F5 on May 25, 1955, which passed about 24 miles west-northwest of town and caused 80 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on April 2, 2025, which passed about 23 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 326 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 41 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 10, 1992.
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 Cedar Vale'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.
Cedar Vale radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Cedar Vale, KS?
KICT (Wichita, KS), about 64 miles northwest. KINX (Tulsa, OK) is 83 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Cedar Vale?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Cedar Vale the lowest scan from KICT is about 5,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Cedar Vale 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 Cedar Vale, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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