Bend, OR Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Bend, Deschutes County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Bend?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 27 days in the Central Oregon forecast zone and Deschutes County — the most common reported hazard around Bend, mostly in February and January. Next come lightning casualties & damage (18 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (18 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 27 | Mar 2025 | Feb 23, 2019 · $1.5 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 18 | Aug 2019 | Jun 29, 1997 · $1.5 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 18 | Aug 2025 | Jul 29, 1998 · $200,000 damage |
| High winds | 11 | Feb 2020 | — |
| Wildfires | 9 | Jun 2020 | — |
| Flash flooding | 8 | May 2015 | Jul 17, 2000 · $10,000 damage |
| Flooding | 6 | Jun 2021 | Jul 1, 2019 · $6,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 4 | Aug 2022 | Jun 27, 2021 · 2 deaths |
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 Central Oregon forecast zone and Deschutes County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Bend get?
A normal year brings about 22 inches of snow to Bend, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Bend weather station 1.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (6.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 2.0 | 5.3 | 6.4 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 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 Bend?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRTX (Portland, OR), about 140 miles northwest. 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 Bend | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRTX Portland, OR | 140 mi northwest | 16,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMAX Medford, OR | 154 mi south-southwest | 18,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KPDT Pendleton, OR | 165 mi northeast | 21,200 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 Bend
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 4 tornadoes within 25 miles of Bend. Most came in June and August. The strongest was an F1 on August 22, 1989, which touched down about 6 miles east of town. The most recent was an EF0 on April 13, 2017, which touched down about 2 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 87 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 6 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.00-inch hail on May 30, 2020.
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 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.
Bend radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Bend, OR?
KRTX (Portland, OR), about 140 miles northwest. KMAX (Medford, OR) is 154 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Bend?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Bend the lowest scan from KRTX is about 16,300 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for 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 Bend, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Redmond, OR radar 15 mi
- Sisters, OR radar 20 mi
- La Pine, OR radar 27 mi
- Prineville, OR radar 28 mi
- Culver, OR radar 33 mi
- Metolius, OR radar 37 mi
- Madras, OR radar 43 mi
- Oakridge, OR radar 62 mi