Hill City, KS Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Hill City, Graham County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Hill City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 125 days in the Graham forecast zone and Graham County — the most common reported hazard around Hill City, mostly in July and June. Next come high winds (59 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (30 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 125 | Jun 2026 | Aug 29, 2019 · $150,000 damage |
| High winds | 59 | Mar 2026 | Oct 18, 2012 · $25,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 30 | Jan 2026 | Dec 29, 2006 · $21 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 18 | May 2023 | Jun 30, 2018 · $500,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 11 | Mar 2025 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 9 | Jan 2024 | — |
| Dust storms | 5 | May 2025 | — |
| Wildfires | 3 | Dec 2021 | Dec 15, 2021 · $50,000 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 Graham forecast zone and Graham County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Hill City get?
A normal year brings about 17 inches of snow to Hill City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Hill City 1E weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually February (5.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.7 | 1.5 | 3.8 | 3.3 | 5.5 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 0.2 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Hill City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KUEX (Hastings, NE), about 99 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 Hill City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 99 mi northeast | 9,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KGLD Goodland, KS | 99 mi west | 9,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDDC Dodge City, KS | 111 mi south | 11,300 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 Hill City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 95 tornadoes within 25 miles of Hill City, 17 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on June 27, 1951, which touched down about 23 miles south of town and caused 5 deaths. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 9, 2022, which touched down about 13 miles south of town.
Hail: 523 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 73 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 6.00-inch hail on May 27, 1962.
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 Hill City'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.
Hill City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Hill City, KS?
KUEX (Hastings, NE), about 99 miles northeast. KGLD (Goodland, KS) is 99 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Hill City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Hill City the lowest scan from KUEX is about 9,500 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Hill City 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 Hill City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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