McDonald, KS Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for McDonald, Rawlins County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits McDonald?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 143 days in the Rawlins forecast zone and Rawlins County — the most common reported hazard around McDonald, mostly in June and July. Next come high winds (74 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (39 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 143 | Jun 2026 | Jun 14, 2014 · $150,000 damage |
| High winds | 74 | Mar 2026 | Apr 15, 2006 · $20,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 39 | Feb 2025 | Dec 29, 2006 · $165,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 23 | Jun 2026 | Apr 24, 2007 · $150,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 17 | Mar 2025 | — |
| Dust storms | 14 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 12 | Jan 2024 | — |
| Flooding | 8 | May 2023 | Aug 23, 2019 · $15,000 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 Rawlins forecast zone and Rawlins County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does McDonald get?
A normal year brings about 34 inches of snow to McDonald, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Mc Donald weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually January (5.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1 | 4.7 | 5.2 | 5.8 | 5.6 | 5.4 | 4.1 | 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 McDonald?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGLD (Goodland, KS), about 34 miles south-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 McDonald | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KGLD Goodland, KS | 34 mi south-southwest | 2,100 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 156 mi north-northeast | 19,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDDC Dodge City, KS | 159 mi south-southeast | 20,000 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 McDonald
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 116 tornadoes within 25 miles of McDonald, 14 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F3 on May 14, 1951, which touched down about 2 miles east of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 18, 2025, which touched down about 25 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 650 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 104 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on July 7, 2016.
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 McDonald'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.
McDonald radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to McDonald, KS?
KGLD (Goodland, KS), about 34 miles south-southwest. KLNX (North Platte, NE) is 156 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in McDonald?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over McDonald the lowest scan from KGLD is about 2,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for McDonald 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 McDonald, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Atwood, KS radar 18 mi
- St. Francis, KS radar 23 mi
- Colby, KS radar 33 mi
- Goodland, KS radar 35 mi
- Oberlin, KS radar 45 mi
- Oakley, KS radar 54 mi
- Hoxie, KS radar 58 mi