Willow Island, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Willow Island, Dawson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Willow Island?
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 Willow Island, 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 Willow Island get?
A normal year brings about 31 inches of snow to Willow Island, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Eustis 2 Nw weather station 14.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (7.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 | 3.1 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 7.3 | 4.4 | 3.4 | 0.4 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Willow Island?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLNX (North Platte, NE), about 78 miles north-northwest. 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 Willow Island | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 78 mi north-northwest | 6,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 94 mi east-southeast | 8,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KGLD Goodland, KS | 136 mi southwest | 15,500 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 Willow Island
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 91 tornadoes within 25 miles of Willow Island, 19 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F3 on June 18, 1975, which passed about 13 miles north-northwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on May 5, 2023, which passed about 14 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 523 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 74 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 29, 2000.
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 Willow Island'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.
Willow Island radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Willow Island, NE?
KLNX (North Platte, NE), about 78 miles north-northwest. KUEX (Hastings, NE) is 94 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Willow Island?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Willow Island the lowest scan from KLNX 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 Willow Island 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 Willow Island, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Cozad, NE radar 5 mi
- Gothenburg, NE radar 5 mi
- Lexington, NE radar 19 mi
- North Platte, NE radar 39 mi
- Broken Bow, NE radar 42 mi
- Cambridge, NE radar 42 mi
- Holdrege, NE radar 48 mi
- Kearney, NE radar 53 mi
- McCook, NE radar 56 mi
- Sutherland, NE radar 58 mi