Cortland, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Cortland, Gage County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Cortland?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 88 days in the Gage forecast zone and Gage County — the most common reported hazard around Cortland, mostly in May and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (42 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (30 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 88 | May 2026 | May 29, 2008 · $250,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 42 | Feb 2025 | Oct 25, 1997 · $2.1 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 30 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Excessive heat | 29 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 22 | May 2026 | Jun 4, 2008 · $250,000 damage |
| High winds | 21 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 16 | Jun 2020 | May 7, 2015 · $850,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 8 | Mar 2025 | — |
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 Gage forecast zone and Gage County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Cortland get?
A normal year brings about 29 inches of snow to Cortland, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Hickman weather station 9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (8.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 | 1.8 | 4.1 | 8.0 | 6.7 | 5.1 | 1.6 | 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 Cortland?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 59 miles north-northeast. 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 Cortland | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 59 mi north-northeast | 4,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 92 mi west | 8,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KTWX Topeka, KS | 107 mi south-southeast | 10,700 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 Cortland
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 109 tornadoes within 25 miles of Cortland, 32 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on May 22, 2004, which passed about 4 miles north-northwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on July 1, 2024, which touched down about 14 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 562 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 58 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.00-inch hail on June 11, 2022.
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 Cortland'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.
Cortland radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Cortland, NE?
KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 59 miles north-northeast. KUEX (Hastings, NE) is 92 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Cortland?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Cortland the lowest scan from KOAX is about 4,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Cortland 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 Cortland, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Hickman, NE radar 9 mi
- Wilber, NE radar 14 mi
- Crete, NE radar 15 mi
- Bennet, NE radar 16 mi
- Beatrice, NE radar 16 mi
- Lincoln, NE radar 21 mi
- Eagle, NE radar 26 mi
- Milford, NE radar 26 mi
- Wymore, NE radar 27 mi
- Tecumseh, NE radar 29 mi