Bartow, FL Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Bartow What TALON shows

What weather hits Bartow?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 160 days in the Polk forecast zone and Polk County — the most common reported hazard around Bartow, mostly in June and July. Next come lightning casualties & damage (40 days) and flooding (30 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds	160	Jun 2024	Jul 28, 2010 · $900,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage	40	Jun 2018	Jul 6, 1998 · 2 deaths
Flooding	30	Aug 2015	Jul 1, 2005 · $1.6 million damage
Hurricanes & tropical storms	25	Oct 2024	Sep 10, 2017 · 3 deaths · $162 million damage
Wildfires	13	Apr 2017	Feb 15, 2017 · $1.1 million damage
Flash flooding	8	Apr 2008	Dec 13, 1997 · $750,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill	7	Oct 2008	Jan 25, 2003 · $1.0 million damage
High winds	5	Sep 2004	Aug 13, 2004 · 1 death · $749 million 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 Polk forecast zone and Polk County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Bartow?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KTBW (Tampa, FL), about 38 miles west-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 Bartow	View
KTBW Tampa, FL	38 mi west-southwest	2,400 ft	Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KMLB Melbourne, FL	73 mi east-northeast	6,000 ft	Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KJAX Jacksonville, FL	180 mi north	24,400 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 Bartow

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 200 tornadoes within 25 miles of Bartow, 22 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F4 on April 4, 1966, which passed about 18 miles north-northwest of town and caused 11 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on October 9, 2024, which touched down about 21 miles southeast of town.

Hail: 145 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 11 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on March 30, 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 Bartow'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.

Bartow radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Bartow, FL?

KTBW (Tampa, FL), about 38 miles west-southwest. KMLB (Melbourne, FL) is 73 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Bartow?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Bartow the lowest scan from KTBW is about 2,400 ft up — excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground.

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

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