Waterbury, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Waterbury, Dixon County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Waterbury?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 63 days in the Dixon forecast zone and Dixon County — the most common reported hazard around Waterbury, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (44 days) and high winds (31 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 63 | Jul 2025 | Jul 16, 1996 · $200,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 44 | Jan 2024 | — |
| High winds | 31 | Mar 2026 | Oct 26, 1996 · $40,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 27 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 26 | Mar 2026 | Nov 10, 1998 · $25,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 20 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 16 | Jun 2025 | Jul 2, 1999 · $1.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 15 | Jun 2024 | Mar 13, 2019 · $3.5 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 Dixon forecast zone and Dixon County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Waterbury get?
A normal year brings about 31 inches of snow to Waterbury, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Emerson weather station 12.3 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 Waterbury?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 78 miles north. 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 Waterbury | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 78 mi north | 6,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 81 mi south-southeast | 7,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 162 mi east-southeast | 20,700 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 Waterbury
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 109 tornadoes within 25 miles of Waterbury, 32 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an EF4 on June 16, 2014, which passed about 24 miles south-southwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on May 12, 2023, which touched down about 19 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 467 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 45 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 27, 2012.
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 Waterbury'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.
Waterbury radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Waterbury, NE?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 78 miles north. KOAX (Omaha, NE) is 81 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Waterbury?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Waterbury the lowest scan from KFSD is about 6,700 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Waterbury 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 Waterbury, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Wakefield, NE radar 15 mi
- Dakota City, NE radar 16 mi
- South Sioux City, NE radar 16 mi
- Wayne, NE radar 21 mi
- Pender, NE radar 24 mi
- Hartington, NE radar 29 mi
- Wisner, NE radar 34 mi
- Stanton, NE radar 43 mi
- West Point, NE radar 43 mi
- Pierce, NE radar 44 mi