Kearney, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Kearney, Buffalo County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Kearney?
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 Kearney, 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 Kearney get?
A normal year brings about 22 inches of snow to Kearney, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Kearney 4 Ne weather station 4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (5.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 | 2.8 | 3.4 | 3.7 | 5.6 | 3.5 | 1.9 | 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 Kearney?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KUEX (Hastings, NE), about 43 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 Kearney | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 43 mi southeast | 2,900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 116 mi northwest | 12,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 148 mi east-northeast | 17,800 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 Kearney
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 154 tornadoes within 25 miles of Kearney, 30 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 19 miles north of town. The most recent was an EF1 on July 6, 2024, which touched down about 15 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 558 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 76 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 Kearney'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.
Kearney radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Kearney, NE?
KUEX (Hastings, NE), about 43 miles southeast. KLNX (North Platte, NE) is 116 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Kearney?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Kearney the lowest scan from KUEX is about 2,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Kearney 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 Kearney, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Gibbon, NE radar 13 mi
- Minden, NE radar 15 mi
- Shelton, NE radar 19 mi
- Holdrege, NE radar 24 mi
- Ravenna, NE radar 25 mi
- Wood River, NE radar 26 mi
- Lexington, NE radar 35 mi
- Hastings, NE radar 37 mi
- Loup City, NE radar 40 mi
- Grand Island, NE radar 41 mi