Ranchester, WY Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Ranchester, Sheridan County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Ranchester?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 60 days in the Sheridan Foothills forecast zone and Sheridan County — the most common reported hazard around Ranchester, mostly in July and June. Next come high winds (33 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (32 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 60 | Jun 2026 | Jun 23, 1998 · $10,000 damage |
| High winds | 33 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 32 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 11 | Jul 2019 | — |
| Flooding | 10 | May 2019 | May 20, 2011 · $520,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 2 | Dec 2022 | — |
| Wildfires | 1 | Aug 2024 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | Jul 2010 | Jul 11, 2010 · 1 death |
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 Sheridan Foothills forecast zone and Sheridan County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Ranchester get?
A normal year brings about 68 inches of snow to Ranchester, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Dayton weather station 5.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually March (12.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.4 | 7.5 | 11.7 | 10.8 | 11.1 | 12.0 | 7.1 | 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 Ranchester?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBLX (Billings, MT), about 96 miles 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 Ranchester | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBLX Billings, MT | 96 mi northwest | 9,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KRIW Riverton, WY | 143 mi south-southwest | 16,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KUDX Rapid City, SD | 220 mi east-southeast | 34,500 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 Ranchester
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 11 tornadoes within 25 miles of Ranchester. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F1 on June 21, 1984, which touched down about 19 miles east-northeast of town. The most recent was an F0 on June 10, 2004, which passed about 11 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 119 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 11 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on July 25, 1962.
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 Ranchester'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.
Ranchester radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Ranchester, WY?
KBLX (Billings, MT), about 96 miles northwest. KRIW (Riverton, WY) is 143 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Ranchester?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Ranchester the lowest scan from KBLX is about 9,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Ranchester 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 Ranchester, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Sheridan, WY radar 13 mi
- Buffalo, WY radar 45 mi
- Greybull, WY radar 52 mi
- Basin, WY radar 57 mi
- Lovell, WY radar 60 mi