Sumner, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Sumner, Dawson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Sumner?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 114 days in the Dawson forecast zone and Dawson County — the most common reported hazard around Sumner, mostly in June and July. Next come high winds (52 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (48 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 114 | May 2025 | Jul 9, 2021 · $6.0 million damage |
| High winds | 52 | Mar 2026 | Dec 25, 2016 · $1.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 48 | Jan 2023 | Jan 1, 1999 · 2 deaths |
| Blizzards | 14 | Mar 2025 | Jan 8, 2024 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 11 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 11 | Jul 2019 | Jul 8, 2019 · 1 death · $10,000 damage |
| Flooding | 7 | May 2019 | May 15, 2015 · $3.1 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Dec 2007 | Dec 29, 2006 · $2.0 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 Dawson forecast zone and Dawson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Sumner get?
A normal year brings about 25 inches of snow to Sumner, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Miller weather station 6.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (6.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 2.3 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 6.0 | 3.3 | 2.5 | 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 Sumner?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KUEX (Hastings, NE), about 71 miles southeast. 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 Sumner | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 71 mi southeast | 5,800 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 89 mi northwest | 8,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KGLD Goodland, KS | 159 mi southwest | 20,000 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 Sumner
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 93 tornadoes within 25 miles of Sumner, 16 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on June 6, 1956, which touched down about 21 miles east of town. The most recent was an EF0 on October 12, 2023, which touched down about 25 miles south of town.
Hail: 460 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 49 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.00-inch hail on June 12, 2002.
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 Sumner'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.
Sumner radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Sumner, NE?
KUEX (Hastings, NE), about 71 miles southeast. KLNX (North Platte, NE) is 89 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Sumner?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Sumner the lowest scan from KUEX is about 5,800 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Sumner 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 Sumner, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Lexington, NE radar 17 mi
- Cozad, NE radar 26 mi
- Kearney, NE radar 28 mi
- Broken Bow, NE radar 32 mi
- Ravenna, NE radar 32 mi
- Gothenburg, NE radar 34 mi
- Holdrege, NE radar 36 mi
- Loup City, NE radar 36 mi
- Gibbon, NE radar 37 mi
- Minden, NE radar 42 mi