Washington, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Washington, Washington County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Washington?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 63 days in the Washington forecast zone and Washington County — the most common reported hazard around Washington, mostly in May and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (60 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (44 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 63 | May 2026 | Oct 1, 2002 · $3.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 60 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 44 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 27 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 24 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 18 | Jul 2024 | Jun 1, 2011 · 1 death · $550,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 12 | Mar 2025 | Mar 10, 2013 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 12 | Aug 2025 | Aug 6, 1999 · $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 Washington forecast zone and Washington County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Washington get?
A normal year brings about 34 inches of snow to Washington, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Bennington 3Wsw weather station 3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (9.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 | 1.8 | 6.2 | 6.9 | 9.8 | 5.7 | 2.3 | 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 Washington?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 10 miles west-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 Washington | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 10 mi west-southwest | 500 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 131 mi east | 14,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 138 mi west-southwest | 16,000 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 Washington
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 127 tornadoes within 25 miles of Washington, 28 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on May 6, 1975, which passed about 13 miles southeast of town and caused 3 deaths. The most recent was an EF3 on April 17, 2025, which passed about 6 miles east of town.
Hail: 930 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 152 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.75-inch hail on June 3, 2014.
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 Washington'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.
Washington radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Washington, NE?
KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 10 miles west-southwest. KDMX (Des Moines, IA) is 131 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Washington?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Washington the lowest scan from KOAX is about 500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Washington 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 Washington, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Bennington, NE radar 3 mi
- Arlington, NE radar 9 mi
- Valley, NE radar 10 mi
- Fort Calhoun, NE radar 10 mi
- Blair, NE radar 11 mi
- Omaha, NE radar 12 mi
- Yutan, NE radar 14 mi
- Fremont, NE radar 15 mi
- Ralston, NE radar 16 mi
- La Vista, NE radar 17 mi