Phillips, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Phillips, Hamilton County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Phillips?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 74 days in the Hamilton forecast zone and Hamilton County — the most common reported hazard around Phillips, mostly in June and May. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (53 days) and high winds (36 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 74 | Jun 2024 | Jul 9, 2021 · $20 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 53 | Jan 2024 | Mar 20, 2006 · $200,000 damage |
| High winds | 36 | Mar 2026 | Dec 25, 2016 · $1.0 million damage |
| Blizzards | 13 | Mar 2025 | Nov 28, 2005 · $25,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 12 | May 2021 | May 11, 2005 · $2.5 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 10 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 9 | Nov 2020 | Dec 30, 2006 · $4.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 5 | May 2019 | Jun 4, 2015 · $2.3 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 Hamilton forecast zone and Hamilton County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Phillips get?
A normal year brings about 28 inches of snow to Phillips, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Grand Island Ap weather station 6.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (7.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | 2.3 | 4.7 | 6.8 | 7.3 | 3.8 | 1.6 | 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 Phillips?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KUEX (Hastings, NE), about 42 miles south-southwest. 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 Phillips | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 42 mi south-southwest | 2,800 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 101 mi east-northeast | 9,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 143 mi west-northwest | 16,700 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 Phillips
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 206 tornadoes within 25 miles of Phillips, 43 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F5 on May 5, 1964, which passed about 12 miles southeast of town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 24, 2025, which touched down about 19 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 729 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 111 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 7.00-inch hail on June 22, 2003.
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 Phillips'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.
Phillips radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Phillips, NE?
KUEX (Hastings, NE), about 42 miles south-southwest. KOAX (Omaha, NE) is 101 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Phillips?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Phillips the lowest scan from KUEX is about 2,800 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Phillips 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 Phillips, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Grand Island, NE radar 8 mi
- Aurora, NE radar 11 mi
- Central City, NE radar 19 mi
- Wood River, NE radar 21 mi
- Henderson, NE radar 23 mi
- Hastings, NE radar 23 mi
- St. Paul, NE radar 25 mi
- Sutton, NE radar 27 mi
- Shelton, NE radar 28 mi
- York, NE radar 33 mi