Bird City, KS Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Bird City, Cheyenne County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Bird City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 150 days in the Cheyenne forecast zone and Cheyenne County — the most common reported hazard around Bird City, mostly in July and June. Next come high winds (74 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (36 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 150 | Jun 2026 | Jun 14, 2014 · $248,000 damage |
| High winds | 74 | Mar 2026 | Nov 9, 2022 · $25,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 36 | Dec 2023 | Dec 29, 2006 · $35,000 damage |
| Dust storms | 24 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 22 | Aug 2025 | Aug 9, 2008 · $60,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 20 | Mar 2025 | Oct 25, 1997 · $5.0 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 12 | Jan 2024 | — |
| Wildfires | 4 | Jan 2026 | — |
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 Cheyenne forecast zone and Cheyenne County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Bird City get?
A normal year brings about 24 inches of snow to Bird City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Bird City 10S weather station 9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (4.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 | 2.7 | 4.4 | 4.8 | 4.3 | 3.3 | 2.0 | 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 Bird City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGLD (Goodland, KS), about 28 miles south-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 Bird City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KGLD Goodland, KS | 28 mi south-southwest | 1,700 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 160 mi west | 20,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 161 mi north-northeast | 20,300 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 Bird City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 122 tornadoes within 25 miles of Bird City, 14 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F3 on May 14, 1951, which touched down about 11 miles east of town. The most recent was an EF2 on May 18, 2025, which passed about 22 miles west of town.
Hail: 600 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 104 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on July 7, 2016.
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 Bird 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.
Bird City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Bird City, KS?
KGLD (Goodland, KS), about 28 miles south-southwest. KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO) is 160 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Bird City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Bird City the lowest scan from KGLD is about 1,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Bird 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 Bird City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- St. Francis, KS radar 14 mi
- Atwood, KS radar 26 mi
- Goodland, KS radar 29 mi
- Colby, KS radar 36 mi
- Oberlin, KS radar 53 mi
- Oakley, KS radar 57 mi