Ellinwood, KS Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Ellinwood, Barton County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Ellinwood?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 164 days in the Barton forecast zone and Barton County — the most common reported hazard around Ellinwood, mostly in June and May. Next come high winds (36 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (31 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 164 | Jun 2026 | Aug 19, 2005 · $5.0 million damage |
| High winds | 36 | Mar 2026 | Feb 9, 2002 · $70,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 31 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 28 | Sep 2021 | May 23, 2014 · $8,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 18 | Aug 2023 | May 5, 2007 · $30 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 8 | Aug 2011 | Jul 16, 2010 · $1.8 million damage |
| Blizzards | 6 | Mar 2025 | Mar 27, 2009 · $50,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Jan 2017 | Dec 10, 2007 · $9.8 million 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 Barton forecast zone and Barton County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Ellinwood get?
A normal year brings about 15 inches of snow to Ellinwood, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Claflin weather station 11.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (4.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.9 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 4.0 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 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 Ellinwood?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KICT (Wichita, KS), about 79 miles southeast. 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 Ellinwood | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KICT Wichita, KS | 79 mi southeast | 6,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDDC Dodge City, KS | 86 mi west-southwest | 7,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KVNX Vance AFB, OK | 114 mi south-southeast | 11,800 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 Ellinwood
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 200 tornadoes within 25 miles of Ellinwood, 27 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on April 21, 2001, which passed about 14 miles northwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF3 on May 18, 2025, which passed about 23 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 655 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 84 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 15, 2002.
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 Ellinwood'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.
Ellinwood radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Ellinwood, KS?
KICT (Wichita, KS), about 79 miles southeast. KDDC (Dodge City, KS) is 86 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Ellinwood?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Ellinwood the lowest scan from KICT 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 Ellinwood 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 Ellinwood, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Sterling, KS radar 23 mi
- St. John, KS radar 27 mi
- Nickerson, KS radar 31 mi
- Larned, KS radar 31 mi
- Ellsworth, KS radar 32 mi
- Russell, KS radar 39 mi
- La Crosse, KS radar 41 mi