Dorchester, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Dorchester, Saline County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Dorchester?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 86 days in the Saline forecast zone and Saline County — the most common reported hazard around Dorchester, mostly in June and May. Next come flooding (49 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (48 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 86 | Jun 2026 | Aug 9, 2025 · $16 million damage |
| Flooding | 49 | Sep 2021 | May 6, 2015 · $100 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 48 | Jan 2024 | Oct 25, 1997 · $2.1 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 32 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 24 | Jun 2026 | Jul 29, 1998 · $130,000 damage |
| High winds | 22 | Dec 2025 | May 29, 2008 · $50,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 22 | Jul 2025 | — |
| 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 Saline forecast zone and Saline County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Dorchester get?
A normal year brings about 24 inches of snow to Dorchester, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Friend 3E weather station 5.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (6.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.9 | 1.6 | 5.1 | 5.9 | 6.6 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 0.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Dorchester?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 61 miles 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 Dorchester | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 61 mi northeast | 4,600 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 73 mi west-southwest | 6,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KTWX Topeka, KS | 123 mi south-southeast | 13,300 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 Dorchester
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 125 tornadoes within 25 miles of Dorchester, 39 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on May 22, 2004, which passed about 15 miles south-southeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on July 1, 2024, which touched down about 4 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 583 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 69 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on September 2, 1995.
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 Dorchester'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.
Dorchester radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Dorchester, NE?
KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 61 miles northeast. KUEX (Hastings, NE) is 73 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Dorchester?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Dorchester the lowest scan from KOAX is about 4,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Dorchester 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 Dorchester, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Crete, NE radar 9 mi
- Milford, NE radar 9 mi
- Wilber, NE radar 14 mi
- Seward, NE radar 18 mi
- Hickman, NE radar 26 mi
- Lincoln, NE radar 26 mi
- Geneva, NE radar 27 mi
- York, NE radar 29 mi
- Bennet, NE radar 32 mi
- Beatrice, NE radar 32 mi