Bristol, NH Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Bristol, Grafton County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Bristol?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 147 days in the Southern Grafton forecast zone and Grafton County — the most common reported hazard around Bristol, mostly in January and March. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (125 days) and flooding (84 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 147 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 125 | Jun 2026 | Aug 4, 2024 · $5,000 damage |
| Flooding | 84 | May 2026 | Aug 28, 2011 · $3.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 47 | Jul 2024 | Jun 27, 1998 · 1 death · $1.5 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 21 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 19 | Oct 2017 | Oct 29, 2012 · $150,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 9 | Jun 2005 | Jun 25, 2000 · $700,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 3 | Mar 2011 | Jan 7, 1998 · $1.3 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 Southern Grafton forecast zone and Grafton County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Bristol get?
A normal year brings about 68 inches of snow to Bristol, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Plymouth weather station 13.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (18.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 3.2 | 14.2 | 18.0 | 15.7 | 13.5 | 3.4 | 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 Bristol?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGYX (Portland, ME), about 76 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 Bristol | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KGYX Portland, ME | 76 mi east-northeast | 6,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KCXX Burlington, VT | 95 mi northwest | 8,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KBOX Boston, MA | 118 mi south-southeast | 12,400 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 Bristol
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 24 tornadoes within 25 miles of Bristol, 3 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and August. The strongest was an F3 on August 25, 1969, which passed about 19 miles north of town. The most recent was an EF0 on August 22, 2020, which touched down about 23 miles east of town.
Hail: 89 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 4 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on June 22, 2008.
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 Bristol'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.
Bristol radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Bristol, NH?
KGYX (Portland, ME), about 76 miles east-northeast. KCXX (Burlington, VT) is 95 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Bristol?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Bristol the lowest scan from KGYX is about 6,400 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Bristol 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 Bristol, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Franklin, NH radar 11 mi
- Laconia, NH radar 13 mi
- Lebanon, NH radar 26 mi
- Concord, NH radar 27 mi
- Claremont, NH radar 34 mi
- Rochester, NH radar 43 mi
- Manchester, NH radar 45 mi
- Somersworth, NH radar 49 mi
- Dover, NH radar 52 mi
- Keene, NH radar 53 mi