Dresden, NY Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Dresden, Yates County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Dresden?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 60 days in the Yates forecast zone and Yates County — the most common reported hazard around Dresden, mostly in June and May. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (58 days) and flash flooding (21 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 60 | Jun 2026 | May 31, 1998 · $150,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 58 | Jan 2026 | Jan 3, 2003 · $300,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 21 | Jun 2025 | Jan 19, 1996 · $7.9 million damage |
| High winds | 17 | Dec 2021 | Sep 19, 2003 · $50,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 10 | Dec 2005 | Jan 10, 2004 · $10,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 7 | Mar 2008 | Apr 4, 2003 · $2.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 4 | Mar 2012 | — |
| Flooding | 1 | Apr 2017 | Apr 20, 2017 · $2,000 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 Yates forecast zone and Yates County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Dresden get?
A normal year brings about 57 inches of snow to Dresden, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Geneva Rsch Farm weather station 13.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (13.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 4.7 | 10.4 | 13.5 | 13.3 | 12.8 | 1.8 | 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 Dresden?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBGM (Binghamton, NY), about 60 miles east-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 Dresden | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBGM Binghamton, NY | 60 mi east-southeast | 4,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KBUF Buffalo, NY | 92 mi west-northwest | 8,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KTYX Montague, NY | 98 mi northeast | 9,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
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 Dresden
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 18 tornadoes within 25 miles of Dresden, 3 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and August. The strongest was an F3 on August 30, 1955, which touched down about 25 miles south of town. The most recent was an EF2 on July 7, 2025, which touched down about 17 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 116 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 4 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.50-inch hail on June 5, 2025.
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 Dresden'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.
Dresden radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Dresden, NY?
KBGM (Binghamton, NY), about 60 miles east-southeast. KBUF (Buffalo, NY) is 92 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Dresden?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Dresden the lowest scan from KBGM is about 4,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Dresden 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 Dresden, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Penn Yan, NY radar 5 mi
- Dundee, NY radar 11 mi
- Geneva, NY radar 12 mi
- Waterloo, NY radar 16 mi
- Union Springs, NY radar 18 mi
- Trumansburg, NY radar 18 mi
- Phelps, NY radar 20 mi
- Clifton Springs, NY radar 21 mi
- Watkins Glen, NY radar 21 mi
- Canandaigua, NY radar 22 mi