Forest City, MO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Forest City, Holt County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Forest City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 41 days in the Holt forecast zone and Holt County — the most common reported hazard around Forest City, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (26 days) and excessive heat (15 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 41 | May 2026 | Jul 23, 1997 · $250,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 26 | Feb 2025 | Apr 10, 1997 · $100,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 15 | Aug 2023 | — |
| Flash flooding | 15 | Jun 2021 | Mar 20, 2019 · $200,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 10 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 6 | Jun 2019 | Mar 9, 2019 · $200,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Dec 2008 | Dec 10, 2007 · $750,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 4 | Nov 2018 | — |
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 Holt forecast zone and Holt County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Forest City get?
A normal year brings about 21 inches of snow to Forest City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Troy 3N weather station 11.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (5.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 1.3 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 5.9 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Forest City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KTWX (Topeka, KS), about 88 miles 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 Forest City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KTWX Topeka, KS | 88 mi southwest | 7,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KEAX Kansas City, MO | 95 mi south-southeast | 8,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 111 mi north-northwest | 11,300 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 Forest City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 111 tornadoes within 25 miles of Forest City, 18 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F3 on May 5, 1950, which passed about 20 miles west-southwest of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on April 27, 2024, which passed about 11 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 350 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 51 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on September 21, 1993.
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 Forest City'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.
Forest City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Forest City, MO?
KTWX (Topeka, KS), about 88 miles southwest. KEAX (Kansas City, MO) is 95 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Forest City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Forest City the lowest scan from KTWX is about 7,900 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Forest City 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 Forest City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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