Carleton, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Carleton, Thayer County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Carleton?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 84 days in the Thayer forecast zone and Thayer County — the most common reported hazard around Carleton, mostly in June and May. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (60 days) and high winds (27 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 84 | Aug 2025 | Aug 9, 2025 · $28 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 60 | Jan 2025 | Dec 10, 2007 · $100,000 damage |
| High winds | 27 | Mar 2026 | Jun 9, 2020 · $25,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 15 | Jul 2020 | Jun 22, 2003 · $7.0 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 10 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Blizzards | 9 | Mar 2025 | Nov 28, 2005 · $10,000 damage |
| Flooding | 6 | Oct 2019 | Jun 23, 2003 · $6.0 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Jan 2017 | Dec 21, 1997 · $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 Thayer forecast zone and Thayer County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Carleton get?
A normal year brings about 23 inches of snow to Carleton, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Bruning weather station 6.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (6.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 | 1.6 | 3.9 | 6.3 | 6.5 | 2.7 | 0.9 | 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 Carleton?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KUEX (Hastings, NE), about 40 miles west. 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 Carleton | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 40 mi west | 2,600 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 98 mi northeast | 9,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KTWX Topeka, KS | 119 mi southeast | 12,500 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 Carleton
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 159 tornadoes within 25 miles of Carleton, 37 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on May 22, 2004, which passed about 19 miles east of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on May 18, 2025, which passed about 6 miles north of town.
Hail: 566 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 70 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on July 28, 2023.
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 Carleton'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.
Carleton radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Carleton, NE?
KUEX (Hastings, NE), about 40 miles west. KOAX (Omaha, NE) is 98 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Carleton?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Carleton the lowest scan from KUEX is about 2,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Carleton 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 Carleton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Hebron, NE radar 11 mi
- Geneva, NE radar 16 mi
- Sutton, NE radar 23 mi
- Superior, NE radar 28 mi
- Fairbury, NE radar 29 mi
- Henderson, NE radar 34 mi
- York, NE radar 39 mi
- Wilber, NE radar 40 mi
- Hastings, NE radar 42 mi
- Aurora, NE radar 42 mi