Bidwell, OH Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Bidwell, Gallia County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Bidwell?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 83 days in the Gallia forecast zone and Gallia County — the most common reported hazard around Bidwell, mostly in June and July. Next come flooding (57 days) and flash flooding (41 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 83 | Jun 2026 | Jun 29, 2012 · $2.5 million damage |
| Flooding | 57 | May 2025 | Mar 2, 1997 · 1 death · $500,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 41 | May 2026 | Jul 14, 2015 · $1.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 34 | Jan 2026 | Feb 3, 1998 · $50,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 29 | Feb 2026 | Jan 6, 2014 · $100,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 19 | Jul 2011 | — |
| High winds | 13 | Apr 2023 | Mar 25, 2023 · $30,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 1 | Feb 2003 | Feb 16, 2003 · $2.0 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 Gallia forecast zone and Gallia County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Bidwell get?
A normal year brings about 15 inches of snow to Bidwell, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Salem Ctr 2 E weather station 10.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (5.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.4 | 2.8 | 5.4 | 4.0 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 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 Bidwell?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRLX (Charleston, WV), about 52 miles 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 Bidwell | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRLX Charleston, WV | 52 mi southeast | 3,700 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KILN Wilmington, OH | 89 mi west-northwest | 8,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KJKL Jackson, KY | 108 mi south-southwest | 10,700 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 Bidwell
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 25 tornadoes within 25 miles of Bidwell, 4 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and June. The strongest was an F5 on April 23, 1968, which passed about 8 miles south-southeast of town and caused 7 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on May 26, 2024, which passed about 19 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 149 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 10 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on April 14, 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 Bidwell'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.
Bidwell radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Bidwell, OH?
KRLX (Charleston, WV), about 52 miles southeast. KILN (Wilmington, OH) is 89 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Bidwell?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Bidwell the lowest scan from KRLX is about 3,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Bidwell 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 Bidwell, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Gallipolis, OH radar 9 mi
- Middleport, OH radar 13 mi
- Oak Hill, OH radar 15 mi
- Pomeroy, OH radar 16 mi
- Wellston, OH radar 19 mi
- Jackson, OH radar 21 mi
- Albany, OH radar 22 mi
- McArthur, OH radar 25 mi
- Athens, OH radar 30 mi
- Ironton, OH radar 34 mi