Bailey, NC Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Bailey, Nash County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Bailey?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 131 days in the Nash forecast zone and Nash County — the most common reported hazard around Bailey, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (37 days) and flash flooding (28 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 131 | Jun 2026 | Jul 2, 1996 · $60,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 37 | Jan 2026 | Feb 25, 2015 · $500,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 28 | Aug 2025 | Sep 15, 1999 · 4 deaths |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 12 | Sep 2022 | Aug 4, 2020 · $1.0 million damage |
| High winds | 6 | Aug 2011 | Aug 27, 2011 · 1 death · $350,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 6 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 6 | Jun 2022 | Aug 17, 2003 · $710,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Dec 1998 | — |
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 Nash forecast zone and Nash County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Bailey get?
A normal year brings about 1.9 inches of snow to Bailey, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Wilson 3 Sw weather station 11.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (0.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 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 Bailey?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRAX (Raleigh/Durham, NC), about 23 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 Bailey | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRAX Raleigh/Durham, NC | 23 mi west-southwest | 1,300 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KMHX Morehead City, NC | 98 mi southeast | 9,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 103 mi northeast | 10,100 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 Bailey
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 80 tornadoes within 25 miles of Bailey, 23 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F4 on November 27, 1988, which passed about 22 miles north-northwest of town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was an EF3 on September 27, 2024, which touched down about 22 miles northeast of town.
Hail: 234 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 10 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on June 24, 1986.
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 Bailey'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.
Bailey radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Bailey, NC?
KRAX (Raleigh/Durham, NC), about 23 miles west-southwest. KMHX (Morehead City, NC) is 98 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Bailey?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Bailey the lowest scan from KRAX is about 1,300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Bailey 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 Bailey, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Wilson, NC radar 11 mi
- Lucama, NC radar 11 mi
- Spring Hope, NC radar 11 mi
- Zebulon, NC radar 12 mi
- Kenly, NC radar 12 mi
- Wendell, NC radar 13 mi
- Elm City, NC radar 14 mi
- Nashville, NC radar 16 mi
- Archer Lodge, NC radar 16 mi
- Sharpsburg, NC radar 17 mi