McLean, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for McLean, Pierce County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits McLean?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged dangerous cold on 56 days in the Pierce forecast zone and Pierce County — the most common reported hazard around McLean, mostly in January and December. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (55 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (36 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 56 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 55 | Jan 2024 | Dec 30, 2006 · $750,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 36 | Jun 2026 | May 29, 2000 · $20,000 damage |
| High winds | 25 | Mar 2026 | Oct 26, 1996 · $5,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 16 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 12 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 11 | Aug 2021 | Aug 4, 1996 · $350,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 7 | Mar 2019 | Mar 13, 2019 · $475,000 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 Pierce forecast zone and Pierce County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does McLean get?
A normal year brings about 30 inches of snow to McLean, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Randolph 6 S weather station 8.3 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 McLean?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 91 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 McLean | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 91 mi north-northeast | 8,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 93 mi southeast | 8,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 151 mi south-southwest | 18,400 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 McLean
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 93 tornadoes within 25 miles of McLean, 24 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on May 8, 1965, which passed about 7 miles west-northwest of town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on May 12, 2023, which passed about 19 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 372 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 McLean'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.
McLean radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to McLean, NE?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 91 miles north-northeast. KOAX (Omaha, NE) is 93 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in McLean?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over McLean the lowest scan from KFSD is about 8,300 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for McLean 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 McLean, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Pierce, NE radar 13 mi
- Plainview, NE radar 16 mi
- Hartington, NE radar 19 mi
- Creighton, NE radar 23 mi
- Norfolk, NE radar 25 mi
- Wayne, NE radar 26 mi
- Battle Creek, NE radar 28 mi
- Wakefield, NE radar 32 mi
- Stanton, NE radar 33 mi
- Neligh, NE radar 34 mi