Viola, KS Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Viola, Sedgwick County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Viola?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 277 days in the Sedgwick forecast zone and Sedgwick County — the most common reported hazard around Viola, mostly in June and July. Next come flooding (63 days) and flash flooding (58 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 277 | Jun 2026 | Jul 10, 1998 · $3.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 63 | Jun 2025 | May 27, 2016 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 58 | Jun 2026 | Sep 12, 2008 · 1 death · $17,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 44 | Jan 2026 | Jan 4, 2005 · 3 deaths |
| High winds | 38 | Mar 2026 | Feb 25, 2000 · 1 death · $2,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 21 | Aug 2024 | Jun 4, 1996 · 2 deaths |
| Excessive heat | 17 | Aug 2024 | Jul 16, 2006 · 3 deaths |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Jan 2017 | Dec 11, 2007 · $1.9 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 Sedgwick forecast zone and Sedgwick County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Viola get?
A normal year brings about 7.9 inches of snow to Viola, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Conway Springs 4Sw weather station 9.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (2.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.2 | 2.6 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 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 Viola?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KICT (Wichita, KS), about 16 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 Viola | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KICT Wichita, KS | 16 mi northeast | 900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KVNX Vance AFB, OK | 58 mi south-southwest | 4,300 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDDC Dodge City, KS | 129 mi west | 14,200 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 Viola
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 177 tornadoes within 25 miles of Viola, 34 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F5 on April 26, 1991, which passed about 9 miles east of town and caused 17 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on July 17, 2021, which touched down about 24 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 1,044 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 118 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 7.75-inch hail on September 15, 2010.
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 Viola'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.
Viola radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Viola, KS?
KICT (Wichita, KS), about 16 miles northeast. KVNX (Vance AFB, OK) is 58 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Viola?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Viola the lowest scan from KICT is about 900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Viola 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 Viola, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Conway Springs, KS radar 6 mi
- Clearwater, KS radar 8 mi
- Cheney, KS radar 13 mi
- Goddard, KS radar 13 mi
- Haysville, KS radar 17 mi
- Wellington, KS radar 19 mi
- Belle Plaine, KS radar 21 mi
- Colwich, KS radar 21 mi
- Wichita, KS radar 22 mi
- Derby, KS radar 22 mi