Lake Waconda, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lake Waconda, Cass County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lake Waconda?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 94 days in the Cass forecast zone and Cass County — the most common reported hazard around Lake Waconda, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (50 days) and flooding (39 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 94 | Jun 2026 | Aug 10, 2006 · $500,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 50 | Feb 2026 | Oct 25, 1997 · $3.2 million damage |
| Flooding | 39 | Jul 2024 | Mar 13, 2019 · $15 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 33 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Excessive heat | 29 | Jul 2025 | — |
| High winds | 24 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 21 | Jun 2026 | Jul 2, 2024 · $60,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 11 | 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 Cass forecast zone and Cass County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Lake Waconda get?
A normal year brings about 24 inches of snow to Lake Waconda, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Nebraska City 2Nw weather station 9.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (8.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 1.3 | 4.2 | 8.1 | 7.2 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 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 Lake Waconda?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 42 miles 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 Lake Waconda | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 42 mi northwest | 2,900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 127 mi east-northeast | 13,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KTWX Topeka, KS | 129 mi south | 14,300 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 Lake Waconda
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 130 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lake Waconda, 29 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and April. The strongest was an F4 on April 25, 1957, which passed about 25 miles north-northwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on August 10, 2025, which touched down about 19 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 541 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 62 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.00-inch hail on June 27, 1967.
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 Lake Waconda'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.
Lake Waconda radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lake Waconda, NE?
KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 42 miles northwest. KDMX (Des Moines, IA) is 127 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lake Waconda?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lake Waconda the lowest scan from KOAX is about 2,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Lake Waconda 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 Lake Waconda, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Nebraska City, NE radar 11 mi
- Plattsmouth, NE radar 12 mi
- Weeping Water, NE radar 15 mi
- Louisville, NE radar 19 mi
- Syracuse, NE radar 21 mi
- Bellevue, NE radar 21 mi
- Springfield, NE radar 24 mi
- Papillion, NE radar 24 mi
- La Vista, NE radar 26 mi
- Ralston, NE radar 27 mi