Great Bend, PA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Great Bend, Susquehanna 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 damaging thunderstorm winds on 147 days in the Susquehanna forecast zone and Susquehanna County — the most common reported hazard around Great Bend, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (84 days) and flash flooding (44 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 147 | Jun 2026 | Sep 7, 2023 · 1 death · $1,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 84 | Jan 2026 | Jan 3, 2003 · $500,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 44 | Jun 2025 | Jun 27, 2006 · 1 death · $100 million damage |
| High winds | 12 | Feb 2019 | Oct 29, 2012 · 1 death · $200,000 damage |
| Flooding | 9 | Aug 2024 | Apr 1, 2005 · $200,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 9 | Jan 2022 | Jan 15, 2004 · $10,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Jan 2003 | Jan 1, 2003 · $30,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 5 | Aug 2021 | Aug 12, 2021 · $100,000 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 Susquehanna forecast zone and Susquehanna County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Great Bend get?
A normal year brings about 69 inches of snow to Great Bend, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Susquehanna weather station 7.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (17.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 4.5 | 14.4 | 17.5 | 14.6 | 14.5 | 3.2 | 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 Great Bend?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBGM (Binghamton, NY), about 20 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 Great Bend | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBGM Binghamton, NY | 20 mi northwest | 1,100 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KENX Albany, NY | 96 mi east-northeast | 9,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KTYX Montague, NY | 123 mi north | 13,300 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 31 tornadoes within 25 miles of Great Bend, 4 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and May. The strongest was an F3 on May 31, 1998, which passed about 7 miles north of town. The most recent was an EF0 on February 28, 2024, which touched down about 19 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 185 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 12 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on June 1, 2022.
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, PA?
KBGM (Binghamton, NY), about 20 miles northwest. KENX (Albany, NY) is 96 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 KBGM is about 1,100 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
- Hallstead, PA radar 1 mi
- Susquehanna Depot, PA radar 7 mi
- Montrose, PA radar 12 mi
- Forest City, PA radar 26 mi
- Factoryville, PA radar 29 mi
- Dalton, PA radar 30 mi
- Carbondale, PA radar 30 mi
- Tunkhannock, PA radar 32 mi
- Mayfield, PA radar 32 mi
- Waymart, PA radar 32 mi