Bear, DE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Bear, New Castle County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Bear?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 173 days in the New Castle forecast zone and New Castle County — the most common reported hazard around Bear, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (111 days) and excessive heat (95 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 173 | Mar 2026 | Jun 30, 2025 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 111 | Jun 2026 | Sep 16, 1999 · 2 deaths · $8.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 95 | Jun 2026 | Jul 4, 1999 · 2 deaths |
| Flooding | 87 | Jan 2024 | Oct 1, 2010 · $600,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 65 | Feb 2026 | Feb 25, 2007 · 2 deaths |
| High winds | 48 | Feb 2026 | Sep 18, 2003 · $9.5 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 40 | Jun 2025 | Jul 23, 2008 · $500,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 28 | Dec 2022 | Jan 26, 2007 · 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 New Castle forecast zone and New Castle County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Bear get?
A normal year brings about 20 inches of snow to Bear, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Wilmington New Castle Co Ap weather station 5.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (7.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.2 | 2.9 | 6.1 | 7.8 | 3.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Bear?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDOX (Dover AFB, DE), about 56 miles south-southeast. 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 Bear | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDOX Dover AFB, DE | 56 mi south-southeast | 4,200 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDIX Philadelphia, NJ | 71 mi east-northeast | 5,800 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 106 mi west-southwest | 10,600 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 Bear
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 78 tornadoes within 25 miles of Bear, 21 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and August. The strongest was an F3 on March 22, 1955, which passed about 24 miles north of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on August 8, 2024, which touched down about 7 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 117 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 2 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.50-inch hail on May 22, 2014.
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'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 radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Bear, DE?
KDOX (Dover AFB, DE), about 56 miles south-southeast. KDIX (Philadelphia, NJ) is 71 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Bear?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Bear the lowest scan from KDOX is about 4,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Bear 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, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Delaware City, DE radar 6 mi
- Newark, DE radar 6 mi
- New Castle, DE radar 7 mi
- Elsmere, DE radar 9 mi
- Wilmington, DE radar 11 mi
- Middletown, DE radar 12 mi
- Bellefonte, DE radar 14 mi
- Townsend, DE radar 15 mi
- Smyrna, DE radar 23 mi
- Clayton, DE radar 24 mi