Norfolk, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Norfolk, Madison County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Norfolk?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 67 days in the Madison forecast zone and Madison County — the most common reported hazard around Norfolk, mostly in June and July. Next come extreme cold & wind chill (54 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (48 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 67 | Jun 2026 | May 27, 2012 · $150,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 54 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 48 | Jan 2024 | Dec 30, 2006 · $1.5 million damage |
| High winds | 42 | Mar 2026 | Jan 17, 1996 · $8,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 18 | Jul 2025 | Jun 4, 1999 · $300,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 13 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Blizzards | 12 | Mar 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 9 | Mar 2019 | Jun 14, 2010 · 1 death · $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 Madison forecast zone and Madison County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Norfolk get?
A normal year brings about 26 inches of snow to Norfolk, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Norfolk 4W weather station 3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (6.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 2.2 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 5.7 | 3.8 | 1.2 | 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 Norfolk?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 73 miles southeast. 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 Norfolk | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 73 mi southeast | 6,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 113 mi north-northeast | 11,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 129 mi south-southwest | 14,300 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 Norfolk
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 119 tornadoes within 25 miles of Norfolk, 28 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on May 30, 1954, which passed about 4 miles southeast of town and caused 6 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on June 25, 2024, which touched down about 15 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 391 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 56 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.50-inch hail on June 25, 2024.
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 Norfolk'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.
Norfolk radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Norfolk, NE?
KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 73 miles southeast. KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD) is 113 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Norfolk?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Norfolk the lowest scan from KOAX is about 6,100 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Norfolk 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 Norfolk, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Battle Creek, NE radar 9 mi
- Stanton, NE radar 12 mi
- Pierce, NE radar 13 mi
- Madison, NE radar 14 mi
- Wayne, NE radar 26 mi
- Wisner, NE radar 26 mi
- Plainview, NE radar 29 mi
- Neligh, NE radar 32 mi
- Wakefield, NE radar 33 mi
- Pender, NE radar 37 mi