Lake City, KS Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lake City, Barber County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lake City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 120 days in the Barber forecast zone and Barber County — the most common reported hazard around Lake City, mostly in June and May. Next come high winds (49 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (33 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 120 | Apr 2026 | May 24, 1998 · $500,000 damage |
| High winds | 49 | Mar 2026 | Apr 16, 2003 · $5,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 33 | Jan 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 9 | Sep 2017 | Sep 12, 2009 · $10,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 8 | May 2023 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 7 | Jan 2017 | — |
| Blizzards | 5 | Feb 2013 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 3 | Dec 2016 | Dec 18, 2016 · 1 death |
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 Barber forecast zone and Barber County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Lake City get?
A normal year brings about 16 inches of snow to Lake City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Sun City weather station 5.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (4.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.2 | 4.8 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 2.4 | 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 Lake City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KVNX (Vance AFB, OK), about 57 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 Lake City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KVNX Vance AFB, OK | 57 mi southeast | 4,300 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDDC Dodge City, KS | 68 mi west-northwest | 5,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KICT Wichita, KS | 79 mi east-northeast | 6,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
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 Lake City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 103 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lake City, 24 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F4 on April 17, 1976, which passed about 24 miles east-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF3 on May 18, 2025, which passed about 22 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 540 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 57 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 12, 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 Lake 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.
Lake City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lake City, KS?
KVNX (Vance AFB, OK), about 57 miles southeast. KDDC (Dodge City, KS) is 68 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lake City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lake City the lowest scan from KVNX is about 4,300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Lake 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 Lake City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Medicine Lodge, KS radar 14 mi
- Pratt, KS radar 24 mi
- Kingman, KS radar 44 mi
- Harper, KS radar 44 mi
- St. John, KS radar 45 mi
- Anthony, KS radar 45 mi
- Kinsley, KS radar 50 mi
- Larned, KS radar 59 mi
- Cheney, KS radar 61 mi