Colony, KS Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Colony, Anderson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Colony?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 70 days in the Anderson forecast zone and Anderson County — the most common reported hazard around Colony, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (44 days) and flash flooding (41 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 70 | Jun 2026 | Jun 6, 1996 · $55,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 44 | Jan 2026 | Jan 4, 2005 · $6.2 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 41 | Jun 2025 | Nov 1, 1998 · $420,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 21 | Jul 2012 | — |
| Flooding | 18 | Jun 2025 | Jun 28, 2007 · $1.0 million damage |
| High winds | 9 | Apr 2009 | Apr 11, 2001 · $4.0 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 6 | Dec 2022 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Jan 2017 | — |
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 Anderson forecast zone and Anderson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Colony get?
A normal year brings about 7.4 inches of snow to Colony, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Iola 1 W weather station 10.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (2.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.2 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 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 Colony?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KEAX (Kansas City, MO), about 78 miles northeast. 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 Colony | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KEAX Kansas City, MO | 78 mi northeast | 6,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KTWX Topeka, KS | 79 mi northwest | 6,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KICT Wichita, KS | 117 mi west-southwest | 12,300 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 Colony
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 71 tornadoes within 25 miles of Colony, 20 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F4 on April 12, 1964, which passed about 5 miles northeast of town and caused 3 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on May 6, 2024, which touched down about 21 miles west of town.
Hail: 381 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 35 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on July 4, 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 Colony'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.
Colony radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Colony, KS?
KEAX (Kansas City, MO), about 78 miles northeast. KTWX (Topeka, KS) is 79 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Colony?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Colony the lowest scan from KEAX is about 6,700 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Colony 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 Colony, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Iola, KS radar 10 mi
- Garnett, KS radar 16 mi
- Humboldt, KS radar 18 mi
- Burlington, KS radar 22 mi
- Yates Center, KS radar 26 mi
- Chanute, KS radar 28 mi
- Erie, KS radar 35 mi
- Pleasanton, KS radar 36 mi
- Ottawa, KS radar 37 mi
- Osawatomie, KS radar 37 mi