La Crosse, KS Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for La Crosse, Rush County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits La Crosse?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 92 days in the Rush forecast zone and Rush County — the most common reported hazard around La Crosse, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (31 days) and flash flooding (17 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 92 | Oct 2025 | Jun 21, 1996 · $550,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 31 | Jan 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 17 | May 2021 | — |
| High winds | 14 | Mar 2026 | Nov 6, 2008 · $10,000 damage |
| Flooding | 7 | May 2021 | May 6, 2008 · $12,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 7 | Mar 2025 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Jan 2017 | — |
| 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 Rush forecast zone and Rush County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does La Crosse get?
A normal year brings about 14 inches of snow to La Crosse, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Bison 3Nw weather station 4.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually March (3.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 1.0 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 2.4 | 3.6 | 0.1 | 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 La Crosse?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDDC (Dodge City, KS), about 64 miles southwest. 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 La Crosse | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDDC Dodge City, KS | 64 mi southwest | 5,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KICT Wichita, KS | 118 mi east-southeast | 12,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 132 mi north-northeast | 14,800 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 La Crosse
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 138 tornadoes within 25 miles of La Crosse, 24 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an EF4 on May 18, 2013, which passed about 22 miles south-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on September 19, 2023, which touched down about 6 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 790 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 92 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 6.00-inch hail on May 24, 2011.
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 La Crosse'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.
La Crosse radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to La Crosse, KS?
KDDC (Dodge City, KS), about 64 miles southwest. KICT (Wichita, KS) is 118 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in La Crosse?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over La Crosse the lowest scan from KDDC is about 5,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for La Crosse 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 La Crosse, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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