Bow Valley, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Bow Valley, Cedar County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Bow Valley?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 68 days in the Cedar forecast zone and Cedar County — the most common reported hazard around Bow Valley, mostly in January and February. Next come extreme cold & wind chill (60 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (57 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 68 | Nov 2025 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 60 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 57 | Jun 2025 | Sep 18, 1997 · $110,000 damage |
| High winds | 26 | Jan 2026 | Jan 17, 1996 · $18,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 15 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 12 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 12 | Jul 2024 | Jun 17, 2014 · $250,000 damage |
| Flooding | 9 | Mar 2019 | Jul 16, 1996 · $1.0 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 Cedar forecast zone and Cedar County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Bow Valley get?
A normal year brings about 35 inches of snow to Bow Valley, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Hartington weather station 6.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (8.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.9 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 8.1 | 6.7 | 6.2 | 4.0 | 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 Bow Valley?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 66 miles north-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 Bow Valley | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 66 mi north-northeast | 5,200 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 107 mi south-southeast | 10,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 177 mi south-southwest | 23,700 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 Bow Valley
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 112 tornadoes within 25 miles of Bow Valley, 29 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on May 8, 1965, which passed about 21 miles southwest of town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on May 30, 2022, which crossed near town.
Hail: 464 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 57 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 27, 2012.
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 Bow Valley'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.
Bow Valley radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Bow Valley, NE?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 66 miles north-northeast. KOAX (Omaha, NE) is 107 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Bow Valley?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Bow Valley the lowest scan from KFSD is about 5,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Bow Valley 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 Bow Valley, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Hartington, NE radar 7 mi
- Wayne, NE radar 35 mi
- Wakefield, NE radar 37 mi
- Plainview, NE radar 37 mi
- Creighton, NE radar 38 mi
- Pierce, NE radar 38 mi
- South Sioux City, NE radar 46 mi
- Dakota City, NE radar 47 mi
- Norfolk, NE radar 48 mi
- Pender, NE radar 50 mi