Elm Creek, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Elm Creek, Buffalo County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Elm Creek?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 110 days in the Buffalo forecast zone and Buffalo County — the most common reported hazard around Elm Creek, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (52 days) and high winds (48 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 110 | Aug 2025 | Jul 9, 2014 · $23 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 52 | Mar 2024 | Mar 20, 2006 · $200,000 damage |
| High winds | 48 | Mar 2026 | Dec 25, 2016 · $1.0 million damage |
| Blizzards | 15 | Mar 2025 | Nov 27, 2005 · $250,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 15 | Sep 2023 | Jul 8, 2019 · $25 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 11 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 11 | Aug 2019 | May 17, 2015 · $3.0 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Dec 2007 | Dec 29, 2006 · $5.0 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 Buffalo forecast zone and Buffalo County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Elm Creek get?
A normal year brings about 25 inches of snow to Elm Creek, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Miller weather station 14.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (6.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 2.3 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 6.0 | 3.3 | 2.5 | 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 Elm Creek?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KUEX (Hastings, NE), about 56 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 Elm Creek | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 56 mi east-southeast | 4,200 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 106 mi northwest | 10,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KGLD Goodland, KS | 154 mi southwest | 19,000 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 Elm Creek
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 140 tornadoes within 25 miles of Elm Creek, 25 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on June 6, 1956, which touched down about 23 miles northeast of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on July 1, 2024, which touched down about 25 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 516 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 57 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.00-inch hail on June 12, 2002.
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 Elm 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.
Elm Creek radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Elm Creek, NE?
KUEX (Hastings, NE), about 56 miles east-southeast. KLNX (North Platte, NE) is 106 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Elm Creek?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Elm Creek the lowest scan from KUEX is about 4,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Elm 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 Elm Creek, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Kearney, NE radar 15 mi
- Holdrege, NE radar 19 mi
- Lexington, NE radar 20 mi
- Minden, NE radar 26 mi
- Gibbon, NE radar 28 mi
- Ravenna, NE radar 33 mi
- Cozad, NE radar 33 mi
- Shelton, NE radar 34 mi
- Wood River, NE radar 41 mi
- Alma, NE radar 43 mi