Bowden, WV Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Bowden, Randolph County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Bowden?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 59 days in the Southeast Randolph forecast zone and Randolph County — the most common reported hazard around Bowden, mostly in June and April. Next come flash flooding (36 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (34 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 59 | Jun 2026 | Jun 29, 2012 · 1 death · $1.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 36 | Jun 2026 | May 16, 1996 · 2 deaths · $1.5 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 34 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 32 | Mar 2026 | Jun 2, 2018 · $50,000 damage |
| High winds | 8 | Dec 2025 | Feb 24, 2019 · $50,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 2 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 1 | Nov 2018 | Nov 15, 2018 · $10,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 1 | Dec 2025 | — |
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 Southeast Randolph forecast zone and Randolph County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Bowden get?
A normal year brings about 103 inches of snow to Bowden, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Glady 1 N weather station 7.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (27.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 | 8.0 | 20.2 | 27.3 | 24.0 | 17.5 | 4.3 | 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 Bowden?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPBZ (Pittsburgh, PA), about 115 miles north-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 Bowden | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPBZ Pittsburgh, PA | 115 mi north-northwest | 12,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KRLX Charleston, WV | 116 mi west-southwest | 12,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 120 mi east | 12,600 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 Bowden
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 10 tornadoes within 25 miles of Bowden, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F2 on July 9, 1980, which touched down about 8 miles south of town. The most recent was an EF1 on June 21, 2016, which touched down about 22 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 67 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 2 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.00-inch hail on May 4, 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 Bowden'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.
Bowden radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Bowden, WV?
KPBZ (Pittsburgh, PA), about 115 miles north-northwest. KRLX (Charleston, WV) is 116 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Bowden?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Bowden the lowest scan from KPBZ is about 12,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Bowden 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 Bowden, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Parsons, WV radar 13 mi
- Belington, WV radar 14 mi
- Philippi, WV radar 25 mi
- Buckhannon, WV radar 28 mi
- Petersburg, WV radar 32 mi
- Grafton, WV radar 34 mi
- Terra Alta, WV radar 38 mi
- Kingwood, WV radar 39 mi
- Bridgeport, WV radar 40 mi