Kensington, KS Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Kensington, Smith County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Kensington?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 78 days in the Smith forecast zone and Smith County — the most common reported hazard around Kensington, mostly in June and May. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (50 days) and high winds (30 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 78 | Aug 2025 | May 26, 2002 · $4.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 50 | Jan 2025 | Jan 31, 2011 · 1 death |
| High winds | 30 | Mar 2026 | Apr 2, 2006 · $20,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 12 | Mar 2025 | Nov 28, 2005 · $30,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 11 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 8 | May 2025 | May 29, 2008 · $825,000 damage |
| Flooding | 6 | Aug 2015 | Jun 2, 2011 · $4.0 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Jan 2017 | Dec 30, 2006 · $500,000 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 Smith forecast zone and Smith County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Kensington get?
A normal year brings about 18 inches of snow to Kensington, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Smith Ctr weather station 13.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (5.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 4.4 | 5.9 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 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 Kensington?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KUEX (Hastings, NE), about 49 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 Kensington | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 49 mi northeast | 3,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KGLD Goodland, KS | 145 mi west | 17,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDDC Dodge City, KS | 148 mi south-southwest | 17,700 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 Kensington
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 87 tornadoes within 25 miles of Kensington, 14 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on May 10, 1985, which passed about 3 miles northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on April 16, 2024, which passed about 12 miles northeast of town.
Hail: 459 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 49 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 31, 1980.
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 Kensington'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.
Kensington radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Kensington, KS?
KUEX (Hastings, NE), about 49 miles northeast. KGLD (Goodland, KS) is 145 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Kensington?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Kensington the lowest scan from KUEX is about 3,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Kensington 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 Kensington, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Smith Center, KS radar 13 mi
- Phillipsburg, KS radar 15 mi
- Stockton, KS radar 27 mi
- Osborne, KS radar 29 mi
- Plainville, KS radar 39 mi
- Norton, KS radar 46 mi
- Hill City, KS radar 51 mi
- Beloit, KS radar 53 mi
- Russell, KS radar 62 mi