Sidney, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Sidney, Cheyenne County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Sidney?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 101 days in the Cheyenne forecast zone and Cheyenne County — the most common reported hazard around Sidney, mostly in July and June. Next come high winds (90 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (49 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 101 | Jun 2026 | Jul 6, 2010 · $20,000 damage |
| High winds | 90 | Mar 2026 | Oct 11, 1997 · $10,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 49 | Mar 2023 | Apr 11, 2001 · $200,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 30 | Jun 2026 | May 25, 1997 · $2.5 million damage |
| Blizzards | 21 | Apr 2024 | Apr 6, 2024 · $1.5 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 18 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 3 | Jul 1998 | Jul 21, 1998 · $2,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 2 | Sep 2022 | — |
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 Cheyenne forecast zone and Cheyenne County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Sidney get?
A normal year brings about 29 inches of snow to Sidney, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Sidney 6 Nnw weather station 7.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (5.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 | 3.7 | 5.7 | 3.8 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 3.2 | 0.7 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Sidney?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KCYS (Cheyenne, WY), about 96 miles west. 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 Sidney | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 96 mi west | 9,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 125 mi southwest | 13,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 136 mi east-northeast | 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 Sidney
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 106 tornadoes within 25 miles of Sidney, 12 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F3 on June 27, 1960, which passed about 11 miles east of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on July 6, 2025, which touched down about 21 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 534 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 80 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on July 5, 2000.
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 Sidney'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.
Sidney radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Sidney, NE?
KCYS (Cheyenne, WY), about 96 miles west. KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO) is 125 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Sidney?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Sidney the lowest scan from KCYS is about 9,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Sidney 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 Sidney, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Kimball, NE radar 36 mi
- Bridgeport, NE radar 37 mi
- Bayard, NE radar 47 mi
- Gering, NE radar 60 mi
- Terrytown, NE radar 61 mi
- Scottsbluff, NE radar 62 mi