Big Bow, KS Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Big Bow, Stanton County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Big Bow?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 83 days in the Stanton forecast zone and Stanton County — the most common reported hazard around Big Bow, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (38 days) and high winds (37 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 83 | Aug 2025 | Sep 18, 1996 · $52,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 38 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 37 | Mar 2026 | Apr 11, 2001 · $25,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 11 | Aug 2025 | — |
| Blizzards | 9 | Dec 2018 | — |
| Flooding | 8 | Jul 2018 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Jan 2017 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 3 | Feb 2025 | — |
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 Stanton forecast zone and Stanton County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Big Bow get?
A normal year brings about 22 inches of snow to Big Bow, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Johnson weather station 10.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (5.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.7 | 1.3 | 5.3 | 5.8 | 3.2 | 4.7 | 0.9 | 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 Big Bow?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDDC (Dodge City, KS), about 88 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 Big Bow | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDDC Dodge City, KS | 88 mi east | 7,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KGLD Goodland, KS | 125 mi north | 13,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 156 mi west-northwest | 19,300 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 Big Bow
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 70 tornadoes within 25 miles of Big Bow, 12 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on May 5, 1993, which passed about 20 miles east-southeast of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 5, 2025, which touched down about 10 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 563 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 67 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.75-inch hail on June 12, 2005.
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 Big Bow'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.
Big Bow radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Big Bow, KS?
KDDC (Dodge City, KS), about 88 miles east. KGLD (Goodland, KS) is 125 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Big Bow?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Big Bow the lowest scan from KDDC is about 7,900 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Big Bow 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 Big Bow, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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