Thurston, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Thurston, Thurston County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Thurston?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged dangerous cold on 56 days in the Thurston forecast zone and Thurston County — the most common reported hazard around Thurston, mostly in January and February. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (47 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (47 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 56 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 47 | Jan 2024 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 47 | May 2026 | Aug 6, 1996 · $10,000 damage |
| High winds | 24 | Mar 2026 | Jan 17, 1996 · $1,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 15 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 14 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 13 | Sep 2019 | Jun 25, 2000 · $400,000 damage |
| Flooding | 8 | Jun 2024 | Mar 13, 2019 · $60,000 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 Thurston forecast zone and Thurston County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Thurston get?
A normal year brings about 31 inches of snow to Thurston, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Emerson weather station 7.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (8.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 | 3.0 | 6.0 | 6.7 | 8.0 | 4.9 | 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 Thurston?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 62 miles south-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 Thurston | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 62 mi south-southeast | 4,700 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 98 mi north | 9,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 156 mi east | 19,400 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 Thurston
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 105 tornadoes within 25 miles of Thurston, 24 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an EF4 on June 16, 2014, which passed about 8 miles west-southwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on June 15, 2024, which touched down about 19 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 346 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 30 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on July 16, 1965.
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 Thurston'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.
Thurston radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Thurston, NE?
KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 62 miles south-southeast. KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD) is 98 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Thurston?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Thurston the lowest scan from KOAX is about 4,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Thurston 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 Thurston, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Pender, NE radar 4 mi
- Wakefield, NE radar 10 mi
- Wayne, NE radar 16 mi
- Wisner, NE radar 17 mi
- Dakota City, NE radar 22 mi
- West Point, NE radar 23 mi
- South Sioux City, NE radar 25 mi
- Oakland, NE radar 26 mi
- Stanton, NE radar 31 mi
- Tekamah, NE radar 37 mi