Emerald, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Emerald, Lancaster County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Emerald?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 128 days in the Lancaster forecast zone and Lancaster County — the most common reported hazard around Emerald, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (59 days) and high winds (42 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 128 | Jun 2026 | Jun 19, 2010 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 59 | Feb 2026 | Oct 25, 1997 · $16 million damage |
| High winds | 42 | Mar 2026 | Oct 3, 2018 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 37 | Jun 2026 | May 9, 2016 · $1.5 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 36 | Feb 2025 | Jan 19, 1996 · $100,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 27 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 12 | Jul 2024 | May 6, 2015 · $100 million damage |
| Blizzards | 11 | Mar 2025 | Mar 10, 2013 · 1 death |
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 Lancaster forecast zone and Lancaster County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Emerald get?
A normal year brings about 26 inches of snow to Emerald, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Lincoln Muni Ap weather station 5.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (7.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.9 | 1.5 | 5.3 | 6.5 | 7.1 | 3.4 | 1.2 | 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 Emerald?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 43 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 Emerald | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 43 mi northeast | 2,900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 91 mi west-southwest | 8,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KTWX Topeka, KS | 130 mi south-southeast | 14,400 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 Emerald
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 132 tornadoes within 25 miles of Emerald, 32 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on May 22, 2004, which passed about 18 miles south-southeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on April 17, 2025, which touched down about 25 miles east-northeast of town.
Hail: 622 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 79 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.00-inch hail on May 9, 2016.
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 Emerald'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.
Emerald radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Emerald, NE?
KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 43 miles northeast. KUEX (Hastings, NE) is 91 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Emerald?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Emerald the lowest scan from KOAX is about 2,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Emerald 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 Emerald, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Lincoln, NE radar 8 mi
- Milford, NE radar 12 mi
- Crete, NE radar 14 mi
- Seward, NE radar 15 mi
- Hickman, NE radar 17 mi
- Waverly, NE radar 17 mi
- Bennet, NE radar 20 mi
- Eagle, NE radar 21 mi
- Wilber, NE radar 24 mi
- Ashland, NE radar 29 mi