Great Bend, NY Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Great Bend, Jefferson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Great Bend?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 212 days in the Jefferson forecast zone and Jefferson County — the most common reported hazard around Great Bend, mostly in January and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (102 days) and high winds (59 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 212 | Mar 2026 | Dec 27, 2001 · $2.0 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 102 | Jun 2026 | Jul 13, 2023 · $600,000 damage |
| High winds | 59 | Dec 2025 | Apr 4, 2018 · 1 death · $15,000 damage |
| Flooding | 22 | Aug 2024 | Apr 28, 2011 · 1 death · $250,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 17 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Coastal flooding | 7 | Nov 2017 | — |
| Blizzards | 6 | Dec 2022 | Dec 23, 2022 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 6 | Aug 2024 | Jul 24, 2008 · $75,000 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 Jefferson forecast zone and Jefferson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Great Bend get?
A normal year brings about 116 inches of snow to Great Bend, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Watertown weather station 9.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (34.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 9.1 | 26.9 | 34.0 | 29.6 | 13.6 | 2.7 | 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 Great Bend?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KTYX (Montague, NY), about 18 miles south. 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 Great Bend | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KTYX Montague, NY | 18 mi south | 1,000 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KBGM Binghamton, NY | 126 mi south | 13,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KENX Albany, NY | 129 mi southeast | 14,200 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 Great Bend
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 9 tornadoes within 25 miles of Great Bend, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and July. The strongest was an F2 on August 15, 1986, which touched down about 19 miles north-northeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on September 9, 2024, which touched down about 20 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 19 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on August 15, 2018.
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 Great Bend'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.
Great Bend radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Great Bend, NY?
KTYX (Montague, NY), about 18 miles south. KBGM (Binghamton, NY) is 126 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Great Bend?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Great Bend the lowest scan from KTYX is about 1,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Great Bend 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 Great Bend, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- West Carthage, NY radar 5 mi
- Carthage, NY radar 5 mi
- Philadelphia, NY radar 9 mi
- Watertown, NY radar 11 mi
- Dexter, NY radar 17 mi
- Lowville, NY radar 19 mi
- Sackets Harbor, NY radar 21 mi
- Adams, NY radar 21 mi
- Clayton, NY radar 24 mi