Fort Dodge, KS Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Fort Dodge, Ford County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Fort Dodge?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 190 days in the Ford forecast zone and Ford County — the most common reported hazard around Fort Dodge, mostly in June and July. Next come high winds (95 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (48 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 190 | Sep 2025 | Jul 16, 2025 · $5.0 million damage |
| High winds | 95 | Mar 2026 | Jan 17, 1996 · 1 death · $200,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 48 | Mar 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 23 | Aug 2025 | Sep 12, 1997 · $2.0 million damage |
| Blizzards | 13 | Mar 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 13 | Aug 2018 | Sep 7, 2009 · $125,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Jan 2020 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 3 | Feb 2025 | — |
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 Ford forecast zone and Ford County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Fort Dodge get?
A normal year brings about 19 inches of snow to Fort Dodge, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Dodge City weather station 2.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (4.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.6 | 1.4 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 3.7 | 0.8 | 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 Fort Dodge?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDDC (Dodge City, KS), about 3 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 Fort Dodge | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDDC Dodge City, KS | 3 mi northwest | 100 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KVNX Vance AFB, OK | 121 mi southeast | 12,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KICT Wichita, KS | 136 mi east | 15,600 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 Fort Dodge
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 163 tornadoes within 25 miles of Fort Dodge, 28 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on June 4, 1955, which passed about 9 miles southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on June 18, 2024, which touched down about 14 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 914 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 124 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.00-inch hail on May 24, 2016.
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 Fort Dodge'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.
Fort Dodge radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Fort Dodge, KS?
KDDC (Dodge City, KS), about 3 miles northwest. KVNX (Vance AFB, OK) is 121 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Fort Dodge?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Fort Dodge the lowest scan from KDDC is about 100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Fort Dodge 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 Fort Dodge, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Dodge City, KS radar 5 mi
- Cimarron, KS radar 23 mi
- Kinsley, KS radar 32 mi
- Meade, KS radar 38 mi
- Plains, KS radar 48 mi
- Ness City, KS radar 50 mi
- Sublette, KS radar 53 mi
- Garden City, KS radar 53 mi
- Larned, KS radar 55 mi
- Holcomb, KS radar 60 mi