Bear Creek, AL Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Bear Creek, Marion County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for Bear CreekWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Bear Creek?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 142 days in the Marion forecast zone and Marion County — the most common reported hazard around Bear Creek, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (24 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (20 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds142Jun 2026Feb 21, 2001 · $250,000 damage
Flash flooding24Jul 2024Dec 8, 2009 · $50,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms20Jan 2025Feb 16, 1996 · $15,000 damage
Excessive heat7Jul 2025—
Lightning casualties & damage5Jul 2016Jun 26, 2002 · 3 deaths · $40,000 damage
High winds4Sep 2004Sep 16, 2004 · $920,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill4Jan 2014Mar 7, 1996 · $1.0 million damage
Ice storms & sleet3Mar 2015Dec 23, 1998 · $800,000 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 Marion forecast zone and Marion County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Bear Creek?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGWX (Columbus AFB, MS), about 43 miles 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over Bear CreekView
KGWX
Columbus AFB, MS		43 mi southwest2,900 ftExcellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KBMX
Birmingham, AL		92 mi southeast8,500 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KHTX
Huntsville, AL		104 mi east-northeast10,200 ftLimited — 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 Bear Creek

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 106 tornadoes within 25 miles of Bear Creek, 29 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and February. The strongest was an EF5 on April 27, 2011, which passed about 4 miles north-northwest of town and caused 72 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on February 15, 2025, which passed about 17 miles west-northwest of town.

Hail: 196 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 19 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 27, 1996.

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 Bear Creek'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.

Bear Creek radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Bear Creek, AL?

KGWX (Columbus AFB, MS), about 43 miles southwest. KBMX (Birmingham, AL) is 92 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Bear Creek?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Bear Creek the lowest scan from KGWX is about 2,900 ft up.

Is TALON's radar for Bear Creek 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 Bear Creek, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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