Whitney, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Whitney, Dawes County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Whitney?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 76 days in the Dawes forecast zone and Dawes County — the most common reported hazard around Whitney, mostly in July and June. Next come high winds (60 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (60 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 76 | Jun 2026 | Jul 22, 2010 · $300,000 damage |
| High winds | 60 | Mar 2026 | Apr 19, 2006 · $40,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 60 | Mar 2025 | Apr 19, 2000 · $25,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 21 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 19 | Dec 2022 | Oct 24, 1997 · $3,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 5 | Jun 2016 | Jun 9, 2010 · $1,000 damage |
| Flooding | 3 | Aug 2021 | — |
| Excessive heat | 2 | Aug 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 Dawes forecast zone and Dawes County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Whitney get?
A normal year brings about 50 inches of snow to Whitney, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Chadron 3Sw weather station 10.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (10.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.7 | 6.3 | 10.0 | 5.8 | 8.6 | 7.9 | 5.6 | 1.4 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Whitney?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KUDX (Rapid City, SD), about 95 miles north-northeast. 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 Whitney | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KUDX Rapid City, SD | 95 mi north-northeast | 8,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 138 mi southwest | 15,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 148 mi east-southeast | 17,800 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 Whitney
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 43 tornadoes within 25 miles of Whitney, 7 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F2 on June 19, 1983, which passed about 2 miles northwest of town. The most recent was an EF2 on July 2, 2020, which passed about 23 miles south of town.
Hail: 293 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 28 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.00-inch hail on May 10, 1991.
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 Whitney'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.
Whitney radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Whitney, NE?
KUDX (Rapid City, SD), about 95 miles north-northeast. KCYS (Cheyenne, WY) is 138 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Whitney?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Whitney the lowest scan from KUDX is about 8,900 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Whitney 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 Whitney, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Chadron, NE radar 13 mi
- Alliance, NE radar 51 mi
- Gordon, NE radar 53 mi