Medicine Lodge, KS Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Medicine Lodge, Barber County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Medicine Lodge?
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 Medicine Lodge, 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 Medicine Lodge get?
A normal year brings about 9.4 inches of snow to Medicine Lodge, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Medicine Lodge weather station 1.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (4.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 4.0 | 0.8 | 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 Medicine Lodge?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KVNX (Vance AFB, OK), about 45 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 Medicine Lodge | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KVNX Vance AFB, OK | 45 mi southeast | 3,100 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KICT Wichita, KS | 67 mi east-northeast | 5,400 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDDC Dodge City, KS | 83 mi west-northwest | 7,300 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 Medicine Lodge
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 103 tornadoes within 25 miles of Medicine Lodge, 20 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F4 on April 17, 1976, which passed about 9 miles east-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on June 7, 2025, which touched down about 25 miles south of town.
Hail: 470 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 56 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on July 9, 2003.
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 Medicine Lodge'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.
Medicine Lodge radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Medicine Lodge, KS?
KVNX (Vance AFB, OK), about 45 miles southeast. KICT (Wichita, KS) is 67 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Medicine Lodge?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Medicine Lodge the lowest scan from KVNX is about 3,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Medicine Lodge 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 Medicine Lodge, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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