Bay City, WI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Bay City, Pierce County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Bay City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 86 days in the Pierce forecast zone and Pierce County — the most common reported hazard around Bay City, mostly in February and March. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (66 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (16 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 86 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 66 | Jun 2026 | Jun 29, 1996 · $3.5 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 16 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 9 | Aug 2023 | — |
| Flash flooding | 7 | Jun 2020 | Aug 13, 2009 · $100,000 damage |
| Flooding | 6 | Sep 2010 | — |
| Blizzards | 4 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 3 | Jan 1998 | — |
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 Pierce forecast zone and Pierce County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Bay City get?
A normal year brings about 44 inches of snow to Bay City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Red Wing weather station 3.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (10.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 3.8 | 8.7 | 10.7 | 10.0 | 8.4 | 2.4 | 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 Bay City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 57 miles west-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 Bay City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 57 mi west-northwest | 4,300 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 82 mi southeast | 7,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDLH Duluth, MN | 156 mi north | 19,300 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 Bay City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 80 tornadoes within 25 miles of Bay City, 14 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F5 on June 4, 1958, which passed about 22 miles north-northeast of town and caused 21 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on June 25, 2025, which touched down about 18 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 248 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 31 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 19, 1988.
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 Bay City'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.
Bay City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Bay City, WI?
KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 57 miles west-northwest. KARX (La Crosse, WI) is 82 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Bay City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Bay City the lowest scan from KMPX is about 4,300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Bay City 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 Bay City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Ellsworth, WI radar 10 mi
- Prescott, WI radar 20 mi
- River Falls, WI radar 21 mi
- Spring Valley, WI radar 21 mi
- Durand, WI radar 24 mi
- Baldwin, WI radar 26 mi
- Woodville, WI radar 26 mi
- Hammond, WI radar 26 mi
- Roberts, WI radar 27 mi
- Hudson, WI radar 29 mi