Farnam, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Farnam, Dawson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Farnam?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 114 days in the Dawson forecast zone and Dawson County — the most common reported hazard around Farnam, mostly in June and July. Next come high winds (52 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (48 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 114 | May 2025 | Jul 9, 2021 · $6.0 million damage |
| High winds | 52 | Mar 2026 | Dec 25, 2016 · $1.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 48 | Jan 2023 | Jan 1, 1999 · 2 deaths |
| Blizzards | 14 | Mar 2025 | Jan 8, 2024 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 11 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 11 | Jul 2019 | Jul 8, 2019 · 1 death · $10,000 damage |
| Flooding | 7 | May 2019 | May 15, 2015 · $3.1 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Dec 2007 | Dec 29, 2006 · $2.0 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 Dawson forecast zone and Dawson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Farnam get?
A normal year brings about 31 inches of snow to Farnam, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Eustis 2 Nw weather station 8.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (7.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 | 3.1 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 7.3 | 4.4 | 3.4 | 0.4 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Farnam?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLNX (North Platte, NE), about 88 miles north-northwest. 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 Farnam | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 88 mi north-northwest | 8,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 97 mi east-southeast | 9,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KGLD Goodland, KS | 121 mi southwest | 13,000 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 Farnam
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 85 tornadoes within 25 miles of Farnam, 19 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an EF3 on April 20, 2007, which passed about 4 miles west of town. The most recent was an EF1 on May 5, 2023, which passed about 17 miles east of town.
Hail: 532 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 78 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 29, 2000.
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 Farnam'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.
Farnam radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Farnam, NE?
KLNX (North Platte, NE), about 88 miles north-northwest. KUEX (Hastings, NE) is 97 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Farnam?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Farnam the lowest scan from KLNX is about 8,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Farnam 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 Farnam, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Gothenburg, NE radar 15 mi
- Cozad, NE radar 16 mi
- Lexington, NE radar 25 mi
- Cambridge, NE radar 29 mi
- North Platte, NE radar 40 mi
- McCook, NE radar 41 mi
- Holdrege, NE radar 48 mi
- Sutherland, NE radar 57 mi
- Broken Bow, NE radar 57 mi
- Kearney, NE radar 59 mi