McGrew, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for McGrew, Scotts Bluff County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits McGrew?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged high winds on 86 days in the Scotts Bluff forecast zone and Scotts Bluff County — the most common reported hazard around McGrew, mostly in April and March. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (76 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (49 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| High winds | 86 | Mar 2026 | Apr 22, 2022 · $500,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 76 | Jun 2026 | Jun 20, 2024 · $4.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 49 | Nov 2023 | — |
| Flash flooding | 24 | Jun 2026 | Jun 2, 1997 · $600,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 19 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 14 | Apr 2024 | Apr 6, 2024 · $1.5 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 3 | Aug 2024 | — |
| Wildfires | 2 | Aug 2022 | Jul 30, 2022 · $250,000 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 Scotts Bluff forecast zone and Scotts Bluff County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does McGrew get?
A normal year brings about 43 inches of snow to McGrew, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Scottsbluff Heilig Ap weather station 12.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (7.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 | 5.2 | 7.8 | 5.3 | 7.5 | 6.8 | 5.2 | 0.9 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover McGrew?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KCYS (Cheyenne, WY), about 83 miles west-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 McGrew | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 83 mi west-southwest | 7,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 147 mi east | 17,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 148 mi south-southwest | 17,700 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 McGrew
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 114 tornadoes within 25 miles of McGrew, 16 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on June 27, 1955, which passed about 3 miles north-northeast of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 23, 2023, which passed about 24 miles west of town.
Hail: 553 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 105 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 3, 2014.
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 McGrew'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.
McGrew radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to McGrew, NE?
KCYS (Cheyenne, WY), about 83 miles west-southwest. KLNX (North Platte, NE) is 147 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in McGrew?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over McGrew the lowest scan from KCYS is about 7,300 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for McGrew 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 McGrew, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Bayard, NE radar 5 mi
- Gering, NE radar 14 mi
- Terrytown, NE radar 15 mi
- Scottsbluff, NE radar 15 mi
- Bridgeport, NE radar 17 mi
- Mitchell, NE radar 24 mi
- Alliance, NE radar 37 mi
- Kimball, NE radar 38 mi
- Sidney, NE radar 48 mi