Crawford, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Crawford, Dawes County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Crawford?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 76 days in the Dawes forecast zone and Dawes County — the most common reported hazard around Crawford, mostly in July and June. Next come high winds (60 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (60 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 76 | Jun 2026 | Jul 22, 2010 · $300,000 damage |
| High winds | 60 | Mar 2026 | Apr 19, 2006 · $40,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 60 | Mar 2025 | Apr 19, 2000 · $25,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 21 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 19 | Dec 2022 | Oct 24, 1997 · $3,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 5 | Jun 2016 | Jun 9, 2010 · $1,000 damage |
| Flooding | 3 | Aug 2021 | — |
| Excessive heat | 2 | Aug 2022 | — |
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 Dawes forecast zone and Dawes County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Crawford?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KUDX (Rapid City, SD), about 104 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 Crawford | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KUDX Rapid City, SD | 104 mi north-northeast | 10,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 128 mi southwest | 14,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 154 mi east-southeast | 18,900 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 Crawford
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 49 tornadoes within 25 miles of Crawford, 6 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F2 on June 19, 1983, which passed about 11 miles northeast of town. The most recent was an EF2 on July 2, 2020, which passed about 18 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 329 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 38 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.00-inch hail on May 10, 1991.
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 Crawford'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.
Crawford radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Crawford, NE?
KUDX (Rapid City, SD), about 104 miles north-northeast. KCYS (Cheyenne, WY) is 128 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Crawford?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Crawford the lowest scan from KUDX is about 10,200 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Crawford 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 Crawford, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Chadron, NE radar 23 mi
- Alliance, NE radar 49 mi
- Mitchell, NE radar 55 mi
- Scottsbluff, NE radar 58 mi
- Terrytown, NE radar 59 mi
- Gering, NE radar 61 mi
- Gordon, NE radar 62 mi