Elgin, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Elgin, Antelope County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Elgin?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 66 days in the Antelope forecast zone and Antelope County — the most common reported hazard around Elgin, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (55 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (53 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 66 | Jun 2026 | Aug 6, 1996 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 55 | Jan 2024 | Dec 29, 2006 · $5.0 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 53 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 24 | Jan 2026 | Mar 24, 1996 · $10,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 16 | Jul 2025 | Aug 27, 2015 · $125,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 13 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 11 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 8 | Mar 2019 | Jun 13, 2010 · $4.0 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 Antelope forecast zone and Antelope County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Elgin get?
A normal year brings about 30 inches of snow to Elgin, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Elgin weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually December (6.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 | 3.2 | 6.5 | 6.4 | 5.9 | 4.0 | 2.7 | 0.2 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Elgin?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 100 miles east-southeast. 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 Elgin | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 100 mi east-southeast | 9,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 116 mi south | 12,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 128 mi west | 14,100 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 Elgin
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 86 tornadoes within 25 miles of Elgin, 19 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on May 8, 1965, which passed about 9 miles east-southeast of town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on June 25, 2024, which touched down about 18 miles east of town.
Hail: 341 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 47 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 3, 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 Elgin'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.
Elgin radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Elgin, NE?
KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 100 miles east-southeast. KUEX (Hastings, NE) is 116 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Elgin?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Elgin the lowest scan from KOAX is about 9,600 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Elgin 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 Elgin, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Neligh, NE radar 10 mi
- Albion, NE radar 21 mi
- Battle Creek, NE radar 25 mi
- Plainview, NE radar 30 mi
- Pierce, NE radar 32 mi
- Norfolk, NE radar 34 mi
- Madison, NE radar 34 mi
- Creighton, NE radar 34 mi
- Fullerton, NE radar 43 mi
- O'Neill, NE radar 44 mi