Bushton, KS Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Bushton, Rice County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Bushton?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 110 days in the Rice forecast zone and Rice County — the most common reported hazard around Bushton, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (34 days) and high winds (29 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 110 | Jun 2026 | Aug 12, 2002 · $250,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 34 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 29 | Mar 2026 | Apr 14, 1999 · $25,000 damage |
| Flooding | 21 | May 2021 | May 23, 2007 · $4.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 14 | Aug 2019 | Aug 12, 2002 · $600,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 8 | Aug 2011 | Jul 16, 2010 · $1.3 million damage |
| Blizzards | 5 | Jan 2025 | Mar 27, 2009 · 1 death · $50,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Jan 2017 | Dec 10, 2007 · $6.4 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 Rice forecast zone and Rice County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Bushton get?
A normal year brings about 15 inches of snow to Bushton, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Claflin weather station 7.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (4.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.9 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 4.0 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 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 Bushton?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KICT (Wichita, KS), about 79 miles southeast. 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 Bushton | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KICT Wichita, KS | 79 mi southeast | 6,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDDC Dodge City, KS | 100 mi west-southwest | 9,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KTWX Topeka, KS | 121 mi east-northeast | 13,000 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 Bushton
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 165 tornadoes within 25 miles of Bushton, 21 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on April 21, 2001, which passed about 21 miles west of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on May 19, 2024, which touched down about 23 miles north of town.
Hail: 703 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 86 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 13, 2000.
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 Bushton'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.
Bushton radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Bushton, KS?
KICT (Wichita, KS), about 79 miles southeast. KDDC (Dodge City, KS) is 100 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Bushton?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Bushton the lowest scan from KICT is about 6,700 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Bushton 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 Bushton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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