Houston Lake, MO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Houston Lake, Platte County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Houston Lake?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 104 days in the Platte forecast zone and Platte County — the most common reported hazard around Houston Lake, mostly in June and May. Next come flooding (52 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (38 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 104 | May 2026 | Nov 27, 2005 · $200,000 damage |
| Flooding | 52 | Jun 2019 | May 7, 2007 · $1.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 38 | Jan 2026 | Oct 22, 1996 · $250,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 28 | Apr 2021 | Oct 4, 1998 · $4.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 23 | Aug 2023 | Jul 14, 2000 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 10 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 10 | Jan 2020 | Jan 18, 2017 · 1 death · $20,000 damage |
| High winds | 7 | Mar 2023 | — |
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 Platte forecast zone and Platte County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Houston Lake get?
A normal year brings about 11 inches of snow to Houston Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Kansas City Downtown Ap weather station 4.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (3.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 0.1 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 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 Houston Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KEAX (Kansas City, MO), about 32 miles 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 Houston Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KEAX Kansas City, MO | 32 mi southeast | 2,000 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KTWX Topeka, KS | 87 mi west | 7,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KSGF Springfield, MO | 150 mi south-southeast | 18,300 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 Houston Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 139 tornadoes within 25 miles of Houston Lake, 44 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F5 on May 20, 1957, which passed about 19 miles south-southeast of town and caused 44 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on June 3, 2025, which touched down about 12 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 1,459 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 155 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.50-inch hail on September 18, 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 Houston 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.
Houston Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Houston Lake, MO?
KEAX (Kansas City, MO), about 32 miles southeast. KTWX (Topeka, KS) is 87 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Houston Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Houston Lake the lowest scan from KEAX is about 2,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Houston 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 Houston Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.