Great Bend, KS Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Great Bend, Barton County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Great Bend?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 164 days in the Barton forecast zone and Barton County — the most common reported hazard around Great Bend, mostly in June and May. Next come high winds (36 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (31 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 164 | Jun 2026 | Aug 19, 2005 · $5.0 million damage |
| High winds | 36 | Mar 2026 | Feb 9, 2002 · $70,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 31 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 28 | Sep 2021 | May 23, 2014 · $8,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 18 | Aug 2023 | May 5, 2007 · $30 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 8 | Aug 2011 | Jul 16, 2010 · $1.8 million damage |
| Blizzards | 6 | Mar 2025 | Mar 27, 2009 · $50,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Jan 2017 | Dec 10, 2007 · $9.8 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 Barton forecast zone and Barton County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Great Bend get?
A normal year brings about 12 inches of snow to Great Bend, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Great Bend 3W weather station 1.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (2.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 2.3 | 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 Great Bend?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDDC (Dodge City, KS), about 76 miles west-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 Great Bend | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDDC Dodge City, KS | 76 mi west-southwest | 6,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KICT Wichita, KS | 89 mi east-southeast | 8,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KVNX Vance AFB, OK | 118 mi south-southeast | 12,400 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 Great Bend
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 210 tornadoes within 25 miles of Great Bend, 27 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on April 21, 2001, which passed about 10 miles north of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on May 19, 2024, which touched down about 10 miles east-northeast of town.
Hail: 754 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 110 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 6.00-inch hail on May 24, 2011.
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 Great Bend'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.
Great Bend radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Great Bend, KS?
KDDC (Dodge City, KS), about 76 miles west-southwest. KICT (Wichita, KS) is 89 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Great Bend?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Great Bend the lowest scan from KDDC is about 6,400 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Great Bend 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 Great Bend, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- St. John, KS radar 25 mi
- La Crosse, KS radar 30 mi
- Lyons, KS radar 32 mi
- Sterling, KS radar 34 mi
- Russell, KS radar 37 mi
- Victoria, KS radar 39 mi
- Ellsworth, KS radar 40 mi