Orchard, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Orchard, Antelope County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Orchard?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 66 days in the Antelope forecast zone and Antelope County — the most common reported hazard around Orchard, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (55 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (53 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 66 | Jun 2026 | Aug 6, 1996 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 55 | Jan 2024 | Dec 29, 2006 · $5.0 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 53 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 24 | Jan 2026 | Mar 24, 1996 · $10,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 16 | Jul 2025 | Aug 27, 2015 · $125,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 13 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 11 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 8 | Mar 2019 | Jun 13, 2010 · $4.0 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 Antelope forecast zone and Antelope County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Orchard get?
A normal year brings about 32 inches of snow to Orchard, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Ewing weather station 7.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (7.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.7 | 3.3 | 5.9 | 5.8 | 7.9 | 4.2 | 3.8 | 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 Orchard?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 115 miles 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 Orchard | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 115 mi northeast | 12,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 119 mi southeast | 12,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 122 mi west-southwest | 13,100 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 Orchard
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 85 tornadoes within 25 miles of Orchard, 11 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on May 5, 1964, which passed about 24 miles southeast of town. The most recent was an EF2 on October 4, 2013, which passed about 7 miles east of town.
Hail: 343 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 42 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 3, 1999.
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 Orchard'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.
Orchard radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Orchard, NE?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 115 miles northeast. KOAX (Omaha, NE) is 119 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Orchard?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Orchard the lowest scan from KFSD is about 12,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Orchard 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 Orchard, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Neligh, NE radar 18 mi
- Creighton, NE radar 19 mi
- O'Neill, NE radar 22 mi
- Plainview, NE radar 23 mi
- Pierce, NE radar 38 mi
- Atkinson, NE radar 40 mi
- Battle Creek, NE radar 40 mi
- Albion, NE radar 46 mi
- Norfolk, NE radar 47 mi
- Hartington, NE radar 53 mi