Cedar Rapids, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Cedar Rapids, Boone County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Cedar Rapids?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 56 days in the Boone forecast zone and Boone County — the most common reported hazard around Cedar Rapids, mostly in June and July. Next come extreme cold & wind chill (46 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (43 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 56 | Jun 2026 | Jun 17, 1998 · $100,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 46 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 43 | Jan 2024 | Dec 30, 2006 · $8.0 million damage |
| High winds | 29 | Jan 2026 | Jan 17, 1996 · $2,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 20 | Jul 2025 | May 22, 2004 · $100,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 12 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Blizzards | 10 | Mar 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 9 | Mar 2019 | Jun 12, 2010 · $80,000 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 Boone forecast zone and Boone County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Cedar Rapids get?
A normal year brings about 24 inches of snow to Cedar Rapids, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Belgrade weather station 7.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (6.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 | 1.8 | 4.3 | 5.1 | 6.6 | 3.2 | 2.3 | 0.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Cedar Rapids?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KUEX (Hastings, NE), about 87 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 Cedar Rapids | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 87 mi south | 7,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 94 mi east | 8,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 128 mi west-northwest | 14,100 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 Cedar Rapids
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 95 tornadoes within 25 miles of Cedar Rapids, 20 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on May 30, 1954, which passed about 25 miles east-northeast of town and caused 6 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on May 23, 2024, which passed about 20 miles south of town.
Hail: 367 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 46 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.50-inch hail on July 18, 1961.
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 Cedar Rapids'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.
Cedar Rapids radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Cedar Rapids, NE?
KUEX (Hastings, NE), about 87 miles south. KOAX (Omaha, NE) is 94 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Cedar Rapids?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Cedar Rapids the lowest scan from KUEX is about 7,800 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Cedar Rapids 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 Cedar Rapids, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Fullerton, NE radar 16 mi
- St. Paul, NE radar 29 mi
- Central City, NE radar 32 mi
- Neligh, NE radar 40 mi
- Ord, NE radar 40 mi
- Madison, NE radar 40 mi
- Battle Creek, NE radar 42 mi
- Columbus, NE radar 42 mi
- Stromsburg, NE radar 42 mi