Merna, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Merna, Custer County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Merna?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 140 days in the Custer forecast zone and Custer County — the most common reported hazard around Merna, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (55 days) and high winds (44 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 140 | Jun 2026 | Aug 9, 2003 · $350,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 55 | Mar 2024 | Jan 17, 1996 · 1 death · $200,000 damage |
| High winds | 44 | Mar 2026 | Apr 13, 2010 · $20,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 28 | Jun 2025 | Oct 12, 2023 · $500,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 15 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Blizzards | 12 | Mar 2024 | Nov 27, 2005 · $1.8 million damage |
| Flooding | 7 | Jul 2021 | Mar 14, 2019 · $1.0 million damage |
| Wildfires | 4 | Apr 2026 | Dec 19, 2024 · 1 death · $80,000 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 Custer forecast zone and Custer County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Merna get?
A normal year brings about 30 inches of snow to Merna, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Broken Bow 2 W weather station 6.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (7.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 | 3.7 | 5.7 | 4.4 | 7.0 | 3.8 | 2.8 | 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 Merna?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLNX (North Platte, NE), about 53 miles northwest. 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 Merna | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 53 mi northwest | 3,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 106 mi southeast | 10,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 176 mi east | 23,700 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 Merna
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 86 tornadoes within 25 miles of Merna, 13 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on May 30, 1961, which passed about 9 miles north of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on July 23, 2025, which touched down about 22 miles east of town.
Hail: 498 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 67 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on April 24, 1989.
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 Merna'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.
Merna radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Merna, NE?
KLNX (North Platte, NE), about 53 miles northwest. KUEX (Hastings, NE) is 106 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Merna?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Merna the lowest scan from KLNX is about 3,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Merna 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 Merna, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Broken Bow, NE radar 8 mi
- Burwell, NE radar 38 mi
- Loup City, NE radar 44 mi
- Gothenburg, NE radar 44 mi
- Ord, NE radar 44 mi
- Cozad, NE radar 45 mi
- Lexington, NE radar 49 mi
- Ravenna, NE radar 55 mi
- North Platte, NE radar 57 mi