Scranton, ND Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Scranton, Bowman County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Scranton?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged high winds on 86 days in the Bowman forecast zone and Bowman County — the most common reported hazard around Scranton, mostly in October and March. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (52 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (46 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| High winds | 86 | Mar 2026 | Jun 16, 2025 · $100,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 52 | Jun 2026 | Jun 6, 2020 · $400,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 46 | Apr 2026 | Oct 4, 2013 · $50,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 33 | Dec 2025 | Jan 9, 1997 · $1.5 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 20 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 3 | Mar 2009 | Jun 6, 2007 · $550,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 2 | Jun 2001 | — |
| Wildfires | 1 | Jul 2006 | — |
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 Bowman forecast zone and Bowman County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Scranton get?
A normal year brings about 33 inches of snow to Scranton, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Reeder weather station 9.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (6.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 6.4 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 3.7 | 0.6 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Scranton?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBIS (Bismarck, ND), about 121 miles east-northeast. 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 Scranton | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBIS Bismarck, ND | 121 mi east-northeast | 12,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KUDX Rapid City, SD | 141 mi south | 16,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMBX Minot AFB, ND | 188 mi north-northeast | 26,400 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 Scranton
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 29 tornadoes within 25 miles of Scranton, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and August. The strongest was an F3 on July 19, 1952, which passed about 15 miles north of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 17, 2025, which touched down about 24 miles east of town.
Hail: 221 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 25 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on July 17, 2003.
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 Scranton'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.
Scranton radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Scranton, ND?
KBIS (Bismarck, ND), about 121 miles east-northeast. KUDX (Rapid City, SD) is 141 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Scranton?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Scranton the lowest scan from KBIS is about 12,900 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Scranton 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 Scranton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Bowman, ND radar 13 mi
- Hettinger, ND radar 26 mi
- Dickinson, ND radar 54 mi