Elk Creek, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Elk Creek, Johnson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Elk Creek?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 48 days in the Johnson forecast zone and Johnson County — the most common reported hazard around Elk Creek, mostly in June and May. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (44 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (27 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 48 | May 2026 | Jul 20, 2000 · $520,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 44 | Feb 2025 | Oct 22, 1996 · $550,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 27 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Excessive heat | 25 | Jul 2025 | — |
| High winds | 15 | Mar 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 9 | May 2026 | May 23, 1996 · $2.0 million damage |
| Blizzards | 7 | Mar 2025 | Nov 25, 2018 · 1 death |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Jan 2017 | — |
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 Johnson forecast zone and Johnson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Elk Creek get?
A normal year brings about 21 inches of snow to Elk Creek, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Table Rock 4N weather station 4.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (5.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 | 1.7 | 4.7 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 2.6 | 0.9 | 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 Elk Creek?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 72 miles north. 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 Elk Creek | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 72 mi north | 6,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KTWX Topeka, KS | 89 mi south | 8,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 122 mi west | 13,100 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 Elk Creek
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 104 tornadoes within 25 miles of Elk Creek, 22 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F3 on April 28, 1963, which passed about 14 miles east-northeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on August 10, 2025, which touched down about 21 miles north of town.
Hail: 362 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 12, 2023.
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 Elk Creek'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.
Elk Creek radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Elk Creek, NE?
KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 72 miles north. KTWX (Topeka, KS) is 89 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Elk Creek?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Elk Creek the lowest scan from KOAX is about 6,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Elk Creek 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 Elk Creek, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Tecumseh, NE radar 7 mi
- Auburn, NE radar 16 mi
- Syracuse, NE radar 26 mi
- Nebraska City, NE radar 30 mi
- Wymore, NE radar 31 mi
- Falls City, NE radar 32 mi
- Beatrice, NE radar 33 mi
- Bennet, NE radar 34 mi
- Hickman, NE radar 35 mi
- Eagle, NE radar 40 mi