River Bend, NC Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for River Bend, Craven County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits River Bend?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 130 days in the Southern Craven forecast zone and Craven County — the most common reported hazard around River Bend, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (21 days) and excessive heat (8 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 130 | Jun 2026 | Mar 8, 2005 · $75,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 21 | Aug 2025 | Sep 30, 2010 · $1.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 8 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 8 | Jul 2015 | Jun 12, 2009 · 1 death · $1,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 5 | Jul 2012 | Jun 8, 2006 · 1 death |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 4 | Aug 2024 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 4 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 1 | Jan 2022 | — |
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 Southern Craven forecast zone and Craven County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does River Bend get?
A normal year brings about 2.5 inches of snow to River Bend, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Trenton weather station 11.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (1.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 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 River Bend?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMHX (Morehead City, NC), about 26 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 River Bend | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMHX Morehead City, NC | 26 mi southeast | 1,500 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KRAX Raleigh/Durham, NC | 86 mi west-northwest | 7,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLTX Wilmington, NC | 104 mi southwest | 10,200 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 River Bend
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 95 tornadoes within 25 miles of River Bend, 11 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and September. The strongest was an F3 on March 17, 1965, which passed about 3 miles south-southeast of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on January 10, 2024, which passed about 10 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 176 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 15 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.50-inch hail on June 9, 1988.
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 River 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.
River Bend radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to River Bend, NC?
KMHX (Morehead City, NC), about 26 miles southeast. KRAX (Raleigh/Durham, NC) is 86 miles away and also covers the area.
Can radar see a tornado near River Bend?
Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over River Bend the lowest scan from KMHX is about 1,500 ft up — excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground.
Is TALON's radar for River 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 River Bend, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Trent Woods, NC radar 3 mi
- New Bern, NC radar 5 mi
- Havelock, NC radar 18 mi
- Bayboro, NC radar 22 mi
- Richlands, NC radar 25 mi
- Newport, NC radar 26 mi
- Swansboro, NC radar 26 mi
- Cape Carteret, NC radar 26 mi
- Cedar Point, NC radar 27 mi
- Grifton, NC radar 27 mi