Lake Tapawingo, MO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lake Tapawingo, Jackson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lake Tapawingo?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 176 days in the Jackson forecast zone and Jackson County — the most common reported hazard around Lake Tapawingo, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (69 days) and flooding (61 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 176 | May 2026 | May 26, 1996 · $10 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 69 | Jul 2024 | Oct 4, 1998 · 9 deaths · $20 million damage |
| Flooding | 61 | May 2020 | May 7, 2007 · $1.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 41 | Jan 2026 | Jan 12, 2007 · 2 deaths |
| Excessive heat | 32 | Aug 2023 | Jul 18, 1999 · 17 deaths |
| Ice storms & sleet | 13 | Jan 2020 | Jan 30, 2002 · $15 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 12 | Feb 2025 | Jan 1, 2018 · 1 death |
| High winds | 10 | Mar 2023 | Mar 31, 2008 · $100,000 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 Jackson forecast zone and Jackson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Lake Tapawingo get?
A normal year brings about 13 inches of snow to Lake Tapawingo, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Independence weather station 4.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (3.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 | 1.2 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 2.6 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 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 Lake Tapawingo?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KEAX (Kansas City, MO), about 15 miles south. 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 Lake Tapawingo | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KEAX Kansas City, MO | 15 mi south | 800 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KTWX Topeka, KS | 103 mi west | 10,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KSGF Springfield, MO | 133 mi south-southeast | 15,000 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 Lake Tapawingo
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 127 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lake Tapawingo, 36 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F5 on May 20, 1957, which passed about 5 miles west-southwest of town and caused 44 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on July 11, 2025, which touched down about 20 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 1,163 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 125 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 Lake Tapawingo'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.
Lake Tapawingo radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lake Tapawingo, MO?
KEAX (Kansas City, MO), about 15 miles south. KTWX (Topeka, KS) is 103 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lake Tapawingo?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lake Tapawingo the lowest scan from KEAX is about 800 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Lake Tapawingo 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 Lake Tapawingo, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Blue Springs, MO radar 3 mi
- Independence, MO radar 5 mi
- Grain Valley, MO radar 5 mi
- Lee's Summit, MO radar 8 mi
- Raytown, MO radar 8 mi
- Lake Lotawana, MO radar 9 mi
- Sugar Creek, MO radar 10 mi
- Buckner, MO radar 10 mi
- Oak Grove, MO radar 10 mi
- Greenwood, MO radar 13 mi