Magnet, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Magnet, Cedar County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Magnet?
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 Magnet, 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 Magnet get?
A normal year brings about 30 inches of snow to Magnet, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Randolph 6 S weather station 12.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (5.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 | 3.7 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.1 | 2.9 | 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 Magnet?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 87 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 Magnet | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 87 mi north-northeast | 7,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 97 mi southeast | 9,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 156 mi south-southwest | 19,300 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 Magnet
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 93 tornadoes within 25 miles of Magnet, 25 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on May 8, 1965, which passed about 5 miles west-northwest of town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on May 12, 2023, which passed about 24 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 344 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 54 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 Magnet'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.
Magnet radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Magnet, NE?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 87 miles north-northeast. KOAX (Omaha, NE) is 97 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Magnet?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Magnet the lowest scan from KFSD is about 7,800 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Magnet 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 Magnet, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Hartington, NE radar 15 mi
- Plainview, NE radar 18 mi
- Pierce, NE radar 18 mi
- Creighton, NE radar 22 mi
- Wayne, NE radar 28 mi
- Norfolk, NE radar 30 mi
- Battle Creek, NE radar 32 mi
- Wakefield, NE radar 34 mi
- Neligh, NE radar 36 mi
- Stanton, NE radar 37 mi