Wood Heights, MO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Wood Heights, Ray County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Wood Heights?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 53 days in the Ray forecast zone and Ray County — the most common reported hazard around Wood Heights, mostly in June and July. Next come flooding (36 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (30 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 53 | Sep 2025 | Oct 14, 2000 · $200,000 damage |
| Flooding | 36 | Jun 2021 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 30 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 15 | Aug 2023 | — |
| Flash flooding | 15 | Jun 2021 | Jun 4, 2001 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 10 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 8 | Feb 2019 | Jan 30, 2002 · $300,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 2 | 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 Ray forecast zone and Ray County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Wood Heights get?
A normal year brings about 19 inches of snow to Wood Heights, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Kearney 3E weather station 9.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (6.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 0.9 | 4.6 | 5.0 | 6.5 | 2.0 | 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 Wood Heights?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KEAX (Kansas City, MO), about 37 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 Wood Heights | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KEAX Kansas City, MO | 37 mi south | 2,400 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KTWX Topeka, KS | 113 mi west-southwest | 11,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KSGF Springfield, MO | 151 mi south-southeast | 18,400 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 Wood Heights
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 105 tornadoes within 25 miles of Wood Heights, 29 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on May 4, 2003, which passed about 19 miles west-southwest of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on June 3, 2025, which passed about 19 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 635 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 81 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on April 23, 1975.
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 Wood Heights'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.
Wood Heights radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Wood Heights, MO?
KEAX (Kansas City, MO), about 37 miles south. KTWX (Topeka, KS) is 113 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Wood Heights?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Wood Heights the lowest scan from KEAX is about 2,400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Wood Heights 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 Wood Heights, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Excelsior Springs, MO radar 4 mi
- Lawson, MO radar 7 mi
- Kearney, MO radar 10 mi
- Richmond, MO radar 11 mi
- Buckner, MO radar 15 mi
- Liberty, MO radar 15 mi
- Lathrop, MO radar 17 mi
- Pleasant Valley, MO radar 19 mi
- Sugar Creek, MO radar 19 mi
- Lexington, MO radar 19 mi