Cowles, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Cowles, Webster County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Cowles?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 64 days in the Webster forecast zone and Webster County — the most common reported hazard around Cowles, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (60 days) and high winds (32 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 64 | Aug 2025 | Jul 9, 2014 · $8.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 60 | Jan 2025 | Dec 10, 2007 · $100,000 damage |
| High winds | 32 | Mar 2026 | Apr 18, 2004 · $5,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 13 | Mar 2025 | Nov 28, 2005 · $10,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 12 | Feb 2025 | Jun 5, 1998 · $5,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Nov 2020 | Dec 29, 2006 · $2.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 6 | Jun 2019 | Jul 4, 2000 · $1.3 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 5 | May 2025 | May 23, 2008 · $550,000 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 Webster forecast zone and Webster County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Cowles get?
A normal year brings about 19 inches of snow to Cowles, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Red Cloud weather station 6.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (5.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 | 1.1 | 3.0 | 4.9 | 5.6 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 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 Cowles?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KUEX (Hastings, NE), about 10 miles north. 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 Cowles | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 10 mi north | 500 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 135 mi northeast | 15,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KTWX Topeka, KS | 143 mi southeast | 16,900 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 Cowles
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 121 tornadoes within 25 miles of Cowles, 20 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on March 13, 1990, which passed about 2 miles southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on July 6, 2024, which touched down about 20 miles north of town.
Hail: 509 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 70 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 22, 1999.
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 Cowles'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.
Cowles radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Cowles, NE?
KUEX (Hastings, NE), about 10 miles north. KOAX (Omaha, NE) is 135 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Cowles?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Cowles the lowest scan from KUEX is about 500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Cowles 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 Cowles, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Superior, NE radar 23 mi
- Hastings, NE radar 30 mi
- Minden, NE radar 35 mi
- Sutton, NE radar 43 mi
- Shelton, NE radar 44 mi
- Gibbon, NE radar 45 mi
- Wood River, NE radar 46 mi
- Hebron, NE radar 46 mi
- Alma, NE radar 49 mi
- Kearney, NE radar 50 mi