McCook, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for McCook, Red Willow County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits McCook?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 126 days in the Red Willow forecast zone and Red Willow County — the most common reported hazard around McCook, mostly in July and June. Next come high winds (89 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (31 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 126 | Jun 2026 | May 23, 2024 · $500,000 damage |
| High winds | 89 | Jun 2026 | Feb 25, 1998 · $100,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 31 | Feb 2023 | — |
| Blizzards | 13 | Mar 2025 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 13 | Jan 2024 | — |
| Flash flooding | 13 | Sep 2025 | Apr 24, 2007 · $25,000 damage |
| Dust storms | 6 | May 2025 | — |
| Wildfires | 5 | Mar 2026 | Apr 22, 2022 · 1 death |
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 Red Willow forecast zone and Red Willow County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does McCook get?
A normal year brings about 20 inches of snow to McCook, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Mc Cook #2 weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually February (5.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 | 2.4 | 3.8 | 3.1 | 5.8 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 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 McCook?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGLD (Goodland, KS), about 81 miles southwest. 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 McCook | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KGLD Goodland, KS | 81 mi southwest | 7,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 115 mi east | 11,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 121 mi north | 12,900 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 McCook
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 93 tornadoes within 25 miles of McCook, 6 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on June 15, 1990, which passed about 3 miles north-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on May 23, 2024, which touched down about 21 miles west of town.
Hail: 536 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 93 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 8, 2003.
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 McCook'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.
McCook radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to McCook, NE?
KGLD (Goodland, KS), about 81 miles southwest. KUEX (Hastings, NE) is 115 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in McCook?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over McCook the lowest scan from KGLD is about 7,100 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for McCook 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 McCook, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Cambridge, NE radar 25 mi
- Gothenburg, NE radar 55 mi
- Cozad, NE radar 56 mi
- Imperial, NE radar 58 mi
- Lexington, NE radar 61 mi