Silver Lake, KS Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Silver Lake, Shawnee County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Silver Lake?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 161 days in the Shawnee forecast zone and Shawnee County — the most common reported hazard around Silver Lake, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (54 days) and flash flooding (52 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 161 | Jun 2026 | Apr 19, 2002 · $2.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 54 | Jan 2026 | Jan 23, 2000 · 2 deaths |
| Flash flooding | 52 | Jun 2026 | May 7, 2007 · $3.4 million damage |
| Flooding | 25 | Jul 2024 | May 7, 2007 · $2.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 24 | Jul 2012 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 22 | Jun 2008 | Aug 17, 2007 · 1 death |
| High winds | 14 | Jun 2014 | Jan 17, 1996 · $75,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 9 | Dec 2022 | — |
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 Shawnee forecast zone and Shawnee County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Silver Lake get?
A normal year brings about 12 inches of snow to Silver Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Rossville weather station 5.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (4.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 | 0.6 | 3.5 | 4.2 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 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 Silver Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KTWX (Topeka, KS), about 21 miles west-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 Silver Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KTWX Topeka, KS | 21 mi west-southwest | 1,200 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KEAX Kansas City, MO | 88 mi east-southeast | 7,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KICT Wichita, KS | 132 mi southwest | 14,800 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 Silver Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 141 tornadoes within 25 miles of Silver Lake, 37 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F5 on June 8, 1966, which passed about 9 miles south-southeast of town and caused 16 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on April 28, 2025, which passed about 16 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 957 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 129 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.25-inch hail on May 21, 2011.
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 Silver Lake'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.
Silver Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Silver Lake, KS?
KTWX (Topeka, KS), about 21 miles west-southwest. KEAX (Kansas City, MO) is 88 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Silver Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Silver Lake the lowest scan from KTWX is about 1,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Silver Lake 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 Silver Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Rossville, KS radar 6 mi
- Topeka, KS radar 10 mi
- St. Marys, KS radar 13 mi
- Auburn, KS radar 13 mi
- Carbondale, KS radar 21 mi
- Wamego, KS radar 25 mi
- Holton, KS radar 26 mi
- Valley Falls, KS radar 27 mi
- Oskaloosa, KS radar 30 mi
- St. George, KS radar 31 mi