Lusk, WY Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lusk, Niobrara County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lusk?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 51 days in the Niobrara County forecast zone and Niobrara County — the most common reported hazard around Lusk, mostly in April and March. Next come high winds (34 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (32 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 51 | Mar 2025 | — |
| High winds | 34 | Mar 2026 | May 4, 2010 · $1,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 32 | May 2026 | Jul 6, 2001 · $10,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 12 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 9 | Dec 2022 | — |
| Flash flooding | 5 | Jun 2023 | Jun 4, 2015 · $1.5 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 2 | Dec 2020 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 2 | Sep 1997 | Jul 24, 1997 · $8,000 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 Niobrara County forecast zone and Niobrara County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Lusk?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KCYS (Cheyenne, WY), about 113 miles south. 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 Lusk | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 113 mi south | 11,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KUDX Rapid City, SD | 125 mi northeast | 13,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KRIW Riverton, WY | 204 mi west | 30,300 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 Lusk
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 37 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lusk, 3 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F2 on June 5, 1982, which touched down about 23 miles north-northwest of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 17, 2025, which touched down about 9 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 177 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 29 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on July 19, 2020.
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 Lusk'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.
Lusk radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lusk, WY?
KCYS (Cheyenne, WY), about 113 miles south. KUDX (Rapid City, SD) is 125 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lusk?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lusk the lowest scan from KCYS is about 11,500 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Lusk 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 Lusk, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Guernsey, WY radar 37 mi
- Douglas, WY radar 48 mi
- Torrington, WY radar 50 mi
- Wheatland, WY radar 55 mi