Baldwin City, KS Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Baldwin City, Douglas County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Baldwin City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 137 days in the Douglas forecast zone and Douglas County — the most common reported hazard around Baldwin City, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (56 days) and flash flooding (47 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 137 | Jun 2026 | Mar 12, 2006 · $8.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 56 | Jan 2026 | Jan 29, 2002 · $1.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 47 | Apr 2026 | Nov 1, 1998 · $2.5 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 22 | Jul 2012 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 20 | Aug 2004 | Sep 21, 1998 · $60,000 damage |
| High winds | 14 | Mar 2023 | Jun 9, 2011 · $5,000 damage |
| Flooding | 13 | Jul 2024 | May 7, 2007 · $255,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 6 | Dec 2022 | Apr 4, 2007 · $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 Douglas forecast zone and Douglas County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Baldwin City get?
A normal year brings about 9.2 inches of snow to Baldwin City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Ottawa weather station 12.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (3.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 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 Baldwin City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KEAX (Kansas City, MO), about 50 miles east. 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 Baldwin City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KEAX Kansas City, MO | 50 mi east | 3,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KTWX Topeka, KS | 58 mi west-northwest | 4,400 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KSGF Springfield, MO | 144 mi southeast | 17,100 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 Baldwin City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 142 tornadoes within 25 miles of Baldwin City, 34 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F5 on May 20, 1957, which passed about 10 miles south-southeast of town and caused 44 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on May 19, 2024, which touched down about 13 miles east of town.
Hail: 834 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 97 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.00-inch hail on July 4, 1992.
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 Baldwin City'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.
Baldwin City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Baldwin City, KS?
KEAX (Kansas City, MO), about 50 miles east. KTWX (Topeka, KS) is 58 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Baldwin City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Baldwin City the lowest scan from KEAX is about 3,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Baldwin City 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 Baldwin City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Wellsville, KS radar 7 mi
- Eudora, KS radar 12 mi
- Edgerton, KS radar 12 mi
- Ottawa, KS radar 13 mi
- Lawrence, KS radar 13 mi
- Gardner, KS radar 14 mi
- De Soto, KS radar 19 mi
- Spring Hill, KS radar 20 mi
- Olathe, KS radar 21 mi
- Paola, KS radar 22 mi