Fairbury, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Fairbury, Jefferson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Fairbury?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 92 days in the Jefferson forecast zone and Jefferson County — the most common reported hazard around Fairbury, mostly in June and May. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (44 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (28 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 92 | Jun 2026 | Jun 13, 2001 · $500,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 44 | Feb 2025 | Oct 25, 1997 · $1.5 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 28 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Excessive heat | 25 | Jul 2025 | — |
| High winds | 22 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 22 | May 2026 | May 7, 2015 · $500,000 damage |
| Flooding | 18 | Mar 2019 | May 7, 2015 · 1 death · $5.3 million damage |
| Blizzards | 6 | Mar 2025 | — |
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 Jefferson forecast zone and Jefferson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Fairbury get?
A normal year brings about 21 inches of snow to Fairbury, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Fairbury 5S weather station 4.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (5.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 | 2.4 | 3.4 | 5.7 | 5.6 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 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 Fairbury?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KUEX (Hastings, NE), about 68 miles west. 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 Fairbury | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 68 mi west | 5,400 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 92 mi north-northeast | 8,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KTWX Topeka, KS | 94 mi south-southeast | 8,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
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 Fairbury
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 135 tornadoes within 25 miles of Fairbury, 40 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on May 22, 2004, which passed about 15 miles north-northwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on May 6, 2024, which touched down about 23 miles east of town.
Hail: 594 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 76 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.00-inch hail on June 11, 2022.
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 Fairbury'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.
Fairbury radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Fairbury, NE?
KUEX (Hastings, NE), about 68 miles west. KOAX (Omaha, NE) is 92 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Fairbury?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Fairbury the lowest scan from KUEX is about 5,400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Fairbury 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 Fairbury, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Hebron, NE radar 22 mi
- Beatrice, NE radar 24 mi
- Wilber, NE radar 26 mi
- Wymore, NE radar 27 mi
- Geneva, NE radar 35 mi
- Crete, NE radar 35 mi
- Milford, NE radar 44 mi
- Hickman, NE radar 44 mi
- Superior, NE radar 48 mi
- Sutton, NE radar 48 mi