Foster, MO Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Foster, Bates County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for Foster What TALON shows

What weather hits Foster?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 57 days in the Bates forecast zone and Bates County — the most common reported hazard around Foster, mostly in May and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (28 days) and excessive heat (17 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds	57	May 2026	May 4, 2020 · 1 death
Heavy snow & winter storms	28	Jan 2026	Nov 30, 2006 · $1,000 damage
Excessive heat	17	Aug 2023	Jul 18, 1999 · 1 death
Flash flooding	16	Jun 2021	—
Extreme cold & wind chill	9	Feb 2025	—
Ice storms & sleet	8	Feb 2019	Jan 30, 2002 · $580,000 damage
Flooding	5	May 2019	—
Blizzards	3	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 Bates forecast zone and Bates County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

How much snow does Foster get?

A normal year brings about 9.5 inches of snow to Foster, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Butler 4W weather station 8.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (3.0 in).

Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May
0.0	0.3	2.4	2.6	3.0	1.2	0.0	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 Foster?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KEAX (Kansas City, MO), about 46 miles north-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 Foster	View
KEAX Kansas City, MO	46 mi north-northeast	3,200 ft	Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KSGF Springfield, MO	88 mi southeast	8,000 ft	Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KTWX Topeka, KS	109 mi west-northwest	11,000 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 Foster

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 59 tornadoes within 25 miles of Foster, 13 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an EF4 on February 28, 2007, which passed about 10 miles northwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on April 2, 2025, which passed about 22 miles southeast of town.

Hail: 305 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 28 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on March 12, 2006.

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 Foster'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.

Foster radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Foster, MO?

KEAX (Kansas City, MO), about 46 miles north-northeast. KSGF (Springfield, MO) is 88 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Foster?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Foster the lowest scan from KEAX is about 3,200 ft up.

Is TALON's radar for Foster 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 Foster, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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