Heartwell, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Heartwell, Kearney County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Heartwell?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 72 days in the Kearney forecast zone and Kearney County — the most common reported hazard around Heartwell, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (50 days) and high winds (48 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 72 | Aug 2025 | Jun 6, 2022 · $18 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 50 | Jan 2024 | Dec 10, 2007 · $100,000 damage |
| High winds | 48 | Mar 2026 | Dec 25, 2016 · $1.0 million damage |
| Blizzards | 13 | Mar 2025 | Nov 27, 2005 · $250,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 10 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 7 | May 2021 | May 11, 2005 · $4.0 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Jan 2017 | Dec 29, 2006 · $10 million damage |
| Flooding | 4 | Oct 2013 | Apr 24, 2007 · $60,000 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 Kearney forecast zone and Kearney County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Heartwell get?
A normal year brings about 25 inches of snow to Heartwell, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Minden weather station 9.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (7.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.6 | 2.4 | 4.2 | 5.6 | 7.2 | 3.3 | 1.5 | 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 Heartwell?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KUEX (Hastings, NE), about 25 miles 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 Heartwell | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 25 mi southeast | 1,500 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 133 mi northwest | 15,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 137 mi east-northeast | 15,600 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 Heartwell
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 185 tornadoes within 25 miles of Heartwell, 32 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F5 on May 5, 1964, which passed about 22 miles east of town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on July 6, 2024, which touched down about 9 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 663 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 98 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 6.00-inch hail on June 12, 1990.
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 Heartwell'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.
Heartwell radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Heartwell, NE?
KUEX (Hastings, NE), about 25 miles southeast. KLNX (North Platte, NE) is 133 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Heartwell?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Heartwell the lowest scan from KUEX is about 1,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Heartwell 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 Heartwell, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Minden, NE radar 11 mi
- Gibbon, NE radar 13 mi
- Shelton, NE radar 15 mi
- Kearney, NE radar 18 mi
- Wood River, NE radar 20 mi
- Hastings, NE radar 21 mi
- Holdrege, NE radar 32 mi
- Ravenna, NE radar 32 mi
- Grand Island, NE radar 33 mi
- Alma, NE radar 44 mi