Brainard, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Brainard, Butler County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Brainard?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 61 days in the Butler forecast zone and Butler County — the most common reported hazard around Brainard, mostly in June and May. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (51 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (41 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 61 | Jun 2026 | Jun 20, 1997 · $100,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 51 | Feb 2026 | Oct 25, 1997 · $1.1 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 41 | Feb 2025 | — |
| High winds | 30 | Mar 2026 | Jan 17, 1996 · $5,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 21 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 17 | Jul 2024 | Aug 16, 2017 · $200,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 12 | May 2024 | Aug 16, 2017 · $200,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 10 | Mar 2025 | — |
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 Butler forecast zone and Butler County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Brainard get?
A normal year brings about 32 inches of snow to Brainard, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the David City weather station 8.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (8.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.9 | 2.4 | 6.1 | 8.0 | 7.4 | 5.1 | 1.9 | 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 Brainard?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 34 miles east-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 Brainard | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 34 mi east-northeast | 2,200 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 96 mi southwest | 9,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KTWX Topeka, KS | 156 mi south-southeast | 19,400 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 Brainard
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 125 tornadoes within 25 miles of Brainard, 28 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F5 on May 5, 1964, which passed about 18 miles northwest of town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on May 19, 2025, which touched down about 20 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 485 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 82 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on July 26, 2014.
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 Brainard'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.
Brainard radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Brainard, NE?
KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 34 miles east-northeast. KUEX (Hastings, NE) is 96 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Brainard?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Brainard the lowest scan from KOAX is about 2,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Brainard 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 Brainard, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- David City, NE radar 8 mi
- Schuyler, NE radar 19 mi
- Seward, NE radar 19 mi
- Wahoo, NE radar 20 mi
- North Bend, NE radar 22 mi
- Columbus, NE radar 26 mi
- Milford, NE radar 28 mi
- Waverly, NE radar 31 mi
- Lincoln, NE radar 31 mi
- Stromsburg, NE radar 31 mi