Madison, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Madison, Madison County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Madison?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 67 days in the Madison forecast zone and Madison County — the most common reported hazard around Madison, mostly in June and July. Next come extreme cold & wind chill (54 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (48 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 67 | Jun 2026 | May 27, 2012 · $150,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 54 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 48 | Jan 2024 | Dec 30, 2006 · $1.5 million damage |
| High winds | 42 | Mar 2026 | Jan 17, 1996 · $8,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 18 | Jul 2025 | Jun 4, 1999 · $300,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 13 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Blizzards | 12 | Mar 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 9 | Mar 2019 | Jun 14, 2010 · 1 death · $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 Madison forecast zone and Madison County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Madison get?
A normal year brings about 30 inches of snow to Madison, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Norfolk Karl Stefan Ap weather station 10.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (6.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 | 3.2 | 6.1 | 6.9 | 6.1 | 4.5 | 2.3 | 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 Madison?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 66 miles east-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 Madison | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 66 mi east-southeast | 5,300 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 116 mi south-southwest | 12,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 127 mi north-northeast | 13,900 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 Madison
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 127 tornadoes within 25 miles of Madison, 23 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on May 30, 1954, which passed about 5 miles northwest of town and caused 6 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on June 25, 2024, which touched down about 16 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 388 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 52 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.50-inch hail on June 25, 2024.
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 Madison'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.
Madison radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Madison, NE?
KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 66 miles east-southeast. KUEX (Hastings, NE) is 116 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Madison?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Madison the lowest scan from KOAX is about 5,300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Madison 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 Madison, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Battle Creek, NE radar 14 mi
- Norfolk, NE radar 14 mi
- Stanton, NE radar 15 mi
- Pierce, NE radar 26 mi
- Columbus, NE radar 28 mi
- Albion, NE radar 30 mi
- Wisner, NE radar 30 mi
- Schuyler, NE radar 33 mi
- Neligh, NE radar 36 mi
- Wayne, NE radar 36 mi