Royal, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Royal, Antelope County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Royal?
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 Royal, 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 Royal get?
A normal year brings about 49 inches of snow to Royal, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Royal 2Se weather station 1.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (11.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 | 4.1 | 8.8 | 8.3 | 11.1 | 8.8 | 5.9 | 0.3 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Royal?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 112 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 Royal | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 112 mi northeast | 11,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 114 mi southeast | 11,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 128 mi west | 14,100 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 Royal
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 83 tornadoes within 25 miles of Royal, 14 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on May 8, 1965, which passed about 22 miles east-southeast of town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on June 16, 2017, which touched down about 23 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 329 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 50 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 Royal'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.
Royal radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Royal, NE?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 112 miles northeast. KOAX (Omaha, NE) is 114 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Royal?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Royal the lowest scan from KFSD is about 11,400 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Royal 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 Royal, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Creighton, NE radar 14 mi
- Neligh, NE radar 15 mi
- Plainview, NE radar 17 mi
- O'Neill, NE radar 28 mi
- Pierce, NE radar 32 mi
- Battle Creek, NE radar 35 mi
- Norfolk, NE radar 41 mi
- Albion, NE radar 45 mi
- Atkinson, NE radar 45 mi
- Hartington, NE radar 48 mi