Longton, KS Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Longton, Elk County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Longton?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 52 days in the Elk forecast zone and Elk County — the most common reported hazard around Longton, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (31 days) and flash flooding (17 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 52 | Jul 2025 | May 8, 2009 · $180,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 31 | Jan 2026 | Jan 1, 1999 · $300,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 17 | Apr 2024 | Jul 1, 2007 · $27 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 14 | Jul 2021 | — |
| Flooding | 13 | May 2024 | Jun 13, 2008 · $10,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Oct 2020 | — |
| High winds | 3 | Mar 2025 | — |
| Blizzards | 2 | Feb 2011 | — |
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 Elk forecast zone and Elk County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Longton get?
A normal year brings about 9.8 inches of snow to Longton, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Longton weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually January (3.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.2 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 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 Longton?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KICT (Wichita, KS), about 77 miles west-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 Longton | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KICT Wichita, KS | 77 mi west-northwest | 6,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KINX Tulsa, OK | 88 mi south-southeast | 7,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KTWX Topeka, KS | 112 mi north | 11,500 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 Longton
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 73 tornadoes within 25 miles of Longton, 14 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on April 2, 1956, which passed about 19 miles northwest of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on April 30, 2024, which touched down about 17 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 373 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 40 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on April 3, 2015.
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 Longton'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.
Longton radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Longton, KS?
KICT (Wichita, KS), about 77 miles west-northwest. KINX (Tulsa, OK) is 88 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Longton?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Longton the lowest scan from KICT is about 6,500 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Longton 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 Longton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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