Central City, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Central City, Merrick County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Central City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 50 days in the Merrick forecast zone and Merrick County — the most common reported hazard around Central City, mostly in January and February. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (49 days) and high winds (32 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 50 | Jan 2024 | Mar 19, 2006 · $100,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 49 | Jun 2024 | Jun 7, 2024 · $6.0 million damage |
| High winds | 32 | Mar 2026 | Dec 25, 2016 · $1.0 million damage |
| Blizzards | 11 | Mar 2025 | Nov 28, 2005 · $25,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 10 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 10 | May 2019 | Mar 13, 2019 · $2.0 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 8 | Nov 2020 | Dec 29, 2006 · $4.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 8 | Jun 2024 | May 11, 2005 · $3.5 million 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 Merrick forecast zone and Merrick County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Central City get?
A normal year brings about 29 inches of snow to Central City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Central City weather station 1.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (7.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 | 2.3 | 5.3 | 6.2 | 7.1 | 4.7 | 1.7 | 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 Central City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KUEX (Hastings, NE), about 59 miles south-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 Central City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 59 mi south-southwest | 4,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 86 mi east | 7,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 145 mi west-northwest | 17,300 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 Central City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 183 tornadoes within 25 miles of Central City, 39 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F5 on May 5, 1964, which passed about 15 miles southeast of town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 24, 2025, which touched down about 4 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 578 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 78 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 7.00-inch hail on June 22, 2003.
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 Central City'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.
Central City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Central City, NE?
KUEX (Hastings, NE), about 59 miles south-southwest. KOAX (Omaha, NE) is 86 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Central City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Central City the lowest scan from KUEX is about 4,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Central City 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 Central City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Aurora, NE radar 17 mi
- Fullerton, NE radar 17 mi
- Stromsburg, NE radar 21 mi
- Grand Island, NE radar 23 mi
- St. Paul, NE radar 25 mi
- Henderson, NE radar 25 mi
- York, NE radar 27 mi
- Sutton, NE radar 36 mi
- Wood River, NE radar 37 mi
- Albion, NE radar 40 mi