Van Tassell, WY Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Van Tassell, Niobrara County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Van Tassell?
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 Van Tassell, 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.
How much snow does Van Tassell get?
A normal year brings about 57 inches of snow to Van Tassell, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Harrison weather station 10.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually March (10.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8 | 5.5 | 8.5 | 6.2 | 10.0 | 10.9 | 8.1 | 2.7 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Van Tassell?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KCYS (Cheyenne, WY), about 111 miles south-southwest. 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 Van Tassell | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 111 mi south-southwest | 11,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KUDX Rapid City, SD | 119 mi north-northeast | 12,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 186 mi east-southeast | 25,900 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 Van Tassell
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 39 tornadoes within 25 miles of Van Tassell, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an EF2 on June 12, 2017, which passed about 10 miles east-southeast of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 17, 2025, which touched down about 21 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 221 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 30 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.38-inch hail on September 10, 2019.
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 Van Tassell'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.
Van Tassell radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Van Tassell, WY?
KCYS (Cheyenne, WY), about 111 miles south-southwest. KUDX (Rapid City, SD) is 119 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Van Tassell?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Van Tassell the lowest scan from KCYS is about 11,200 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Van Tassell 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 Van Tassell, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Torrington, WY radar 42 mi
- Guernsey, WY radar 43 mi
- Wheatland, WY radar 61 mi