Elba, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Elba, Howard County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Elba?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 53 days in the Howard forecast zone and Howard County — the most common reported hazard around Elba, mostly in January and February. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (46 days) and high winds (30 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 53 | Jan 2024 | Mar 19, 2006 · $100,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 46 | Jun 2024 | Jul 24, 2013 · $5.1 million damage |
| High winds | 30 | Mar 2026 | Dec 25, 2016 · $1.0 million damage |
| Blizzards | 13 | Mar 2025 | Nov 27, 2005 · $250,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 10 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 10 | Jun 2024 | Jun 21, 2024 · $6.6 million damage |
| Flooding | 9 | Jun 2024 | May 30, 2024 · $4.5 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Dec 2007 | Dec 29, 2006 · $3.0 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 Howard forecast zone and Howard County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Elba get?
A normal year brings about 22 inches of snow to Elba, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Saint Paul weather station 7.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (6.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 | 2.2 | 4.1 | 4.7 | 6.2 | 3.0 | 1.8 | 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 Elba?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KUEX (Hastings, NE), about 67 miles south. 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 Elba | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 67 mi south | 5,300 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 114 mi west-northwest | 11,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 114 mi east | 11,800 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 Elba
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 134 tornadoes within 25 miles of Elba, 34 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on May 8, 1965, which passed about 11 miles east-southeast of town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on May 18, 2025, which touched down about 4 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 430 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 50 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on June 9, 2003.
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 Elba'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.
Elba radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Elba, NE?
KUEX (Hastings, NE), about 67 miles south. KLNX (North Platte, NE) is 114 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Elba?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Elba the lowest scan from KUEX is about 5,300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Elba 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 Elba, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- St. Paul, NE radar 8 mi
- Loup City, NE radar 21 mi
- Ravenna, NE radar 25 mi
- Grand Island, NE radar 27 mi
- Ord, NE radar 28 mi
- Fullerton, NE radar 31 mi
- Central City, NE radar 32 mi
- Wood River, NE radar 32 mi
- Shelton, NE radar 36 mi
- Gibbon, NE radar 40 mi