Golva, ND Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Golva, Golden Valley County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Golva?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged high winds on 70 days in the Golden Valley forecast zone and Golden Valley County — the most common reported hazard around Golva, mostly in March and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (49 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (40 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| High winds | 70 | Mar 2026 | Feb 13, 2011 · $20,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 49 | Jun 2026 | Sep 5, 2015 · $700,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 40 | Oct 2023 | — |
| Blizzards | 33 | Dec 2025 | Apr 4, 1997 · $1.6 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 20 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Aug 2006 | Aug 17, 2006 · $7,000 damage |
| Flooding | 2 | Apr 2023 | Apr 11, 2023 · $140,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 2 | Jun 2002 | — |
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 Golden Valley forecast zone and Golden Valley County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Golva?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBIS (Bismarck, ND), about 153 miles east. 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 Golva | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBIS Bismarck, ND | 153 mi east | 18,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KGGW Glasgow, MT | 160 mi northwest | 20,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMBX Minot AFB, ND | 185 mi northeast | 25,700 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 Golva
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 22 tornadoes within 25 miles of Golva, 6 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F3 on July 19, 1952, which passed about 18 miles north of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on July 24, 2014, which touched down about 22 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 220 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 35 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 8, 2002.
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 Golva'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.
Golva radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Golva, ND?
KBIS (Bismarck, ND), about 153 miles east. KGGW (Glasgow, MT) is 160 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Golva?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Golva the lowest scan from KBIS is about 18,700 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Golva 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 Golva, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Bowman, ND radar 47 mi
- Dickinson, ND radar 57 mi