Butte, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Butte, Boyd County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Butte?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 52 days in the Boyd forecast zone and Boyd County — the most common reported hazard around Butte, mostly in January and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (36 days) and high winds (19 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 52 | Feb 2023 | Apr 9, 2013 · $50,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 36 | Jun 2026 | Jul 2, 1999 · $200,000 damage |
| High winds | 19 | Dec 2025 | Nov 1, 1997 · $20,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 19 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Blizzards | 13 | Dec 2023 | Jan 4, 1997 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 9 | Jun 2023 | Mar 14, 2019 · 1 death · $12 million damage |
| Flooding | 3 | Mar 2019 | Mar 13, 2019 · $5.0 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 2 | Feb 2011 | — |
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 Boyd forecast zone and Boyd County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Butte get?
A normal year brings about 36 inches of snow to Butte, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Butte weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually December (6.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | 4.4 | 6.8 | 6.2 | 6.5 | 5.9 | 5.0 | 0.2 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Butte?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLNX (North Platte, NE), about 110 miles southwest. 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 Butte | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 110 mi southwest | 11,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 116 mi east-northeast | 12,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 168 mi southeast | 21,900 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 Butte
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 47 tornadoes within 25 miles of Butte, 12 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on May 29, 1962, which passed about 11 miles east-northeast of town. The most recent was an EF2 on July 28, 2025, which passed about 13 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 293 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 41 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on July 2, 1999.
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 Butte'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.
Butte radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Butte, NE?
KLNX (North Platte, NE), about 110 miles southwest. KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD) is 116 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Butte?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Butte the lowest scan from KLNX is about 11,100 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Butte 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 Butte, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Atkinson, NE radar 27 mi
- O'Neill, NE radar 33 mi
- Creighton, NE radar 57 mi
- Ainsworth, NE radar 57 mi