Bridgewater, IA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Bridgewater, Adair County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Bridgewater?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 75 days in the Adair forecast zone and Adair County — the most common reported hazard around Bridgewater, mostly in June and May. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (42 days) and high winds (34 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 75 | Aug 2025 | Jun 18, 2010 · $175,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 42 | Feb 2026 | Oct 26, 1997 · $3.2 million damage |
| High winds | 34 | Mar 2025 | Nov 10, 1998 · $305,000 damage |
| Flooding | 21 | May 2019 | Jun 12, 2010 · $20 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 18 | Jul 2025 | May 24, 2007 · $300,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 16 | Jan 2025 | Dec 19, 2000 · 1 death |
| Blizzards | 14 | Mar 2025 | Dec 20, 2012 · $100,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 13 | Jan 2017 | Dec 23, 2009 · $500,000 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 Adair forecast zone and Adair County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Bridgewater get?
A normal year brings about 26 inches of snow to Bridgewater, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Greenfield weather station 12.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (7.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 | 1.7 | 5.4 | 6.8 | 7.3 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 0.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Bridgewater?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 59 miles northeast. 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 Bridgewater | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 59 mi northeast | 4,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 88 mi west | 8,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KEAX Kansas City, MO | 170 mi south | 22,200 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 Bridgewater
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 135 tornadoes within 25 miles of Bridgewater, 33 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F5 on June 27, 1953, which touched down about 14 miles north of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on June 28, 2024, which touched down about 23 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 379 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 49 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on July 2, 1999.
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 Bridgewater'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.
Bridgewater radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Bridgewater, IA?
KDMX (Des Moines, IA), about 59 miles northeast. KOAX (Omaha, NE) is 88 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Bridgewater?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Bridgewater the lowest scan from KDMX is about 4,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Bridgewater 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 Bridgewater, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Greenfield, IA radar 12 mi
- Corning, IA radar 18 mi
- Creston, IA radar 20 mi
- Atlantic, IA radar 21 mi
- Stuart, IA radar 25 mi
- Lenox, IA radar 26 mi
- Villisca, IA radar 27 mi
- Guthrie Center, IA radar 31 mi
- Red Oak, IA radar 33 mi
- Earlham, IA radar 33 mi