Laurel, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Laurel, Cedar County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Laurel?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 68 days in the Cedar forecast zone and Cedar County — the most common reported hazard around Laurel, mostly in January and February. Next come extreme cold & wind chill (60 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (57 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 68 | Nov 2025 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 60 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 57 | Jun 2025 | Sep 18, 1997 · $110,000 damage |
| High winds | 26 | Jan 2026 | Jan 17, 1996 · $18,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 15 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 12 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 12 | Jul 2024 | Jun 17, 2014 · $250,000 damage |
| Flooding | 9 | Mar 2019 | Jul 16, 1996 · $1.0 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 Cedar forecast zone and Cedar County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Laurel get?
A normal year brings about 32 inches of snow to Laurel, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Wayne weather station 14 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (6.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 3.5 | 6.2 | 6.8 | 6.7 | 5.8 | 2.7 | 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 Laurel?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 82 miles north-northeast. 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 Laurel | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 82 mi north-northeast | 7,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 85 mi south-southeast | 7,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 162 mi south-southwest | 20,500 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 Laurel
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 88 tornadoes within 25 miles of Laurel, 28 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on May 8, 1965, which passed about 24 miles west-northwest of town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on June 15, 2024, which touched down about 24 miles south of town.
Hail: 342 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 44 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 27, 2012.
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 Laurel'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.
Laurel radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Laurel, NE?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 82 miles north-northeast. KOAX (Omaha, NE) is 85 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Laurel?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Laurel the lowest scan from KFSD is about 7,200 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Laurel 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 Laurel, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Wayne, NE radar 14 mi
- Hartington, NE radar 16 mi
- Wakefield, NE radar 16 mi
- Pierce, NE radar 27 mi
- Pender, NE radar 29 mi
- Wisner, NE radar 32 mi
- Norfolk, NE radar 32 mi
- Stanton, NE radar 34 mi
- Dakota City, NE radar 34 mi
- South Sioux City, NE radar 35 mi