Cozad, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Cozad, Dawson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Cozad?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 114 days in the Dawson forecast zone and Dawson County — the most common reported hazard around Cozad, mostly in June and July. Next come high winds (52 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (48 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 114 | May 2025 | Jul 9, 2021 · $6.0 million damage |
| High winds | 52 | Mar 2026 | Dec 25, 2016 · $1.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 48 | Jan 2023 | Jan 1, 1999 · 2 deaths |
| Blizzards | 14 | Mar 2025 | Jan 8, 2024 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 11 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 11 | Jul 2019 | Jul 8, 2019 · 1 death · $10,000 damage |
| Flooding | 7 | May 2019 | May 15, 2015 · $3.1 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Dec 2007 | Dec 29, 2006 · $2.0 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 Dawson forecast zone and Dawson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Cozad get?
A normal year brings about 31 inches of snow to Cozad, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Eustis 2 Nw weather station 12.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (7.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 | 3.1 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 7.3 | 4.4 | 3.4 | 0.4 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Cozad?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLNX (North Platte, NE), about 82 miles north-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 Cozad | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 82 mi north-northwest | 7,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 89 mi east-southeast | 8,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KGLD Goodland, KS | 137 mi southwest | 15,800 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 Cozad
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 87 tornadoes within 25 miles of Cozad, 17 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F3 on June 18, 1975, which passed about 17 miles north-northwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on May 5, 2023, which passed about 10 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 512 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 72 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 29, 2000.
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 Cozad'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.
Cozad radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Cozad, NE?
KLNX (North Platte, NE), about 82 miles north-northwest. KUEX (Hastings, NE) is 89 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Cozad?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Cozad the lowest scan from KLNX is about 7,100 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Cozad 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 Cozad, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Gothenburg, NE radar 10 mi
- Lexington, NE radar 14 mi
- Cambridge, NE radar 41 mi
- Broken Bow, NE radar 42 mi
- Holdrege, NE radar 43 mi
- North Platte, NE radar 44 mi
- Kearney, NE radar 49 mi
- McCook, NE radar 56 mi
- Ravenna, NE radar 58 mi
- Minden, NE radar 59 mi