Chester, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Chester, Thayer County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Chester?
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 Chester, 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 Chester get?
A normal year brings about 25 inches of snow to Chester, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Hubbell weather station 6.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (6.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.7 | 2.5 | 4.4 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 3.0 | 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 Chester?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KUEX (Hastings, NE), about 49 miles west-northwest. 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 Chester | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 49 mi west-northwest | 3,400 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KTWX Topeka, KS | 102 mi southeast | 9,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 112 mi northeast | 11,400 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 Chester
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 162 tornadoes within 25 miles of Chester, 31 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on June 4, 1955, which passed about 2 miles south-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on June 7, 2022, which passed about 8 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 579 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 78 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on May 20, 1957.
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 Chester'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.
Chester radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Chester, NE?
KUEX (Hastings, NE), about 49 miles west-northwest. KTWX (Topeka, KS) is 102 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Chester?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Chester the lowest scan from KUEX is about 3,400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Chester 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 Chester, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Hebron, NE radar 11 mi
- Superior, NE radar 23 mi
- Fairbury, NE radar 25 mi
- Geneva, NE radar 36 mi
- Sutton, NE radar 43 mi
- Wilber, NE radar 47 mi
- Beatrice, NE radar 50 mi
- Wymore, NE radar 51 mi
- Henderson, NE radar 54 mi
- Crete, NE radar 55 mi