Pretty Prairie, KS Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Pretty Prairie, Reno County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Pretty Prairie?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 173 days in the Reno forecast zone and Reno County — the most common reported hazard around Pretty Prairie, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (43 days) and high winds (39 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 173 | Jun 2026 | Jul 3, 2005 · 1 death · $15 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 43 | Jan 2026 | Jan 20, 2007 · 3 deaths |
| High winds | 39 | Mar 2026 | Mar 23, 2009 · $80,000 damage |
| Flooding | 32 | Jun 2019 | Jun 1, 2019 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 20 | Jun 2025 | May 7, 2007 · $2.5 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 10 | Aug 2011 | Jul 14, 2011 · 3 deaths |
| Ice storms & sleet | 7 | Jan 2017 | Dec 10, 2007 · $38 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 7 | Jun 2013 | May 22, 2006 · $30,000 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 Reno forecast zone and Reno County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Pretty Prairie get?
A normal year brings about 11 inches of snow to Pretty Prairie, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Pretty Prairie 1 N weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually December (3.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 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 Pretty Prairie?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KICT (Wichita, KS), about 33 miles east-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 Pretty Prairie | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KICT Wichita, KS | 33 mi east-southeast | 2,100 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KVNX Vance AFB, OK | 72 mi south | 5,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDDC Dodge City, KS | 106 mi west | 10,600 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 Pretty Prairie
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 146 tornadoes within 25 miles of Pretty Prairie, 21 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F5 on March 13, 1990, which crossed near town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on October 26, 2021, which touched down about 22 miles west of town.
Hail: 738 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 103 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.00-inch hail on May 22, 1995.
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 Pretty Prairie'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.
Pretty Prairie radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Pretty Prairie, KS?
KICT (Wichita, KS), about 33 miles east-southeast. KVNX (Vance AFB, OK) is 72 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Pretty Prairie?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Pretty Prairie the lowest scan from KICT is about 2,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Pretty Prairie 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 Pretty Prairie, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Kingman, KS radar 10 mi
- Haven, KS radar 16 mi
- Cheney, KS radar 17 mi
- South Hutchinson, KS radar 17 mi
- Hutchinson, KS radar 21 mi
- Nickerson, KS radar 26 mi
- Colwich, KS radar 27 mi
- Goddard, KS radar 27 mi
- Buhler, KS radar 28 mi
- Maize, KS radar 31 mi