Papillion, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Papillion, Sarpy County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Papillion?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 97 days in the Sarpy forecast zone and Sarpy County — the most common reported hazard around Papillion, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (57 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (36 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 97 | May 2026 | Jul 31, 2024 · $15 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 57 | Feb 2026 | Jan 4, 2005 · 2 deaths |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 36 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 29 | Jul 2024 | Mar 15, 2019 · $420 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 28 | Jun 2026 | — |
| High winds | 27 | Mar 2026 | Oct 13, 1997 · $7,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 13 | Jul 2025 | Jun 20, 2014 · 1 death |
| Blizzards | 11 | Mar 2025 | — |
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 Sarpy forecast zone and Sarpy County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Papillion get?
A normal year brings about 36 inches of snow to Papillion, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Gretna 4Ne weather station 6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (10.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 | 1.3 | 7.8 | 8.6 | 10.9 | 5.4 | 1.0 | 0.2 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Papillion?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 19 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 Papillion | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 19 mi northwest | 1,100 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 129 mi east-northeast | 14,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 136 mi west-southwest | 15,600 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 Papillion
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 133 tornadoes within 25 miles of Papillion, 26 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on May 6, 1975, which passed about 2 miles north-northeast of town and caused 3 deaths. The most recent was an EF3 on April 17, 2025, which passed about 17 miles north of town.
Hail: 907 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 123 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-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 Papillion'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.
Papillion radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Papillion, NE?
KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 19 miles northwest. KDMX (Des Moines, IA) is 129 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Papillion?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Papillion the lowest scan from KOAX is about 1,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Papillion 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 Papillion, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- La Vista, NE radar 3 mi
- Springfield, NE radar 4 mi
- Ralston, NE radar 4 mi
- Gretna, NE radar 6 mi
- Bellevue, NE radar 7 mi
- Omaha, NE radar 8 mi
- Louisville, NE radar 11 mi
- Plattsmouth, NE radar 14 mi
- Bennington, NE radar 16 mi
- Ashland, NE radar 17 mi