Palco, KS Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Palco, Rooks County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Palco?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 68 days in the Rooks forecast zone and Rooks County — the most common reported hazard around Palco, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (38 days) and high winds (32 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 68 | Aug 2025 | Aug 29, 2019 · $1.5 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 38 | Jan 2025 | Dec 10, 2007 · $250,000 damage |
| High winds | 32 | Mar 2026 | Apr 2, 2006 · $20,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 17 | Jun 2022 | Jun 5, 2022 · $1.3 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 11 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Blizzards | 9 | Mar 2025 | Nov 27, 2005 · $100,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Jan 2017 | Dec 30, 2006 · $500,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 3 | Dec 2021 | Nov 24, 2017 · $1.0 million 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 Rooks forecast zone and Rooks County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Palco get?
A normal year brings about 20 inches of snow to Palco, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Palco weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually February (5.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 | 1.2 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 5.4 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 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 Palco?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KUEX (Hastings, NE), about 95 miles northeast. 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 Palco | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 95 mi northeast | 8,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDDC Dodge City, KS | 105 mi south-southwest | 10,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KGLD Goodland, KS | 115 mi west | 11,800 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 Palco
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 125 tornadoes within 25 miles of Palco, 30 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on June 27, 1951, which touched down about 23 miles southwest of town and caused 5 deaths. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 9, 2022, which touched down about 13 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 532 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 71 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 6.00-inch hail on May 27, 1962.
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 Palco'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.
Palco radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Palco, KS?
KUEX (Hastings, NE), about 95 miles northeast. KDDC (Dodge City, KS) is 105 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Palco?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Palco the lowest scan from KUEX is about 8,900 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Palco 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 Palco, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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