Medicine Bow, WY Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Medicine Bow, Carbon County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Medicine Bow?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged high winds on 96 days in the Shirley Basin forecast zone and Carbon County — the most common reported hazard around Medicine Bow, mostly in December and February. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (64 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (48 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| High winds | 96 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 64 | Jun 2026 | Apr 14, 2000 · $100,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 48 | Apr 2025 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 13 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 5 | Aug 2022 | Jul 19, 2011 · 4 deaths |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Sep 2002 | Sep 17, 2002 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 3 | Aug 2023 | — |
| Blizzards | 2 | Feb 2023 | — |
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 Shirley Basin forecast zone and Carbon County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Medicine Bow get?
A normal year brings about 52 inches of snow to Medicine Bow, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Medicine Bow weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually February (7.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.5 | 6.5 | 6.8 | 6.5 | 7.9 | 7.6 | 7.3 | 2.4 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Medicine Bow?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KCYS (Cheyenne, WY), about 89 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 Medicine Bow | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 89 mi southeast | 8,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KRIW Riverton, WY | 141 mi northwest | 16,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 170 mi south-southeast | 22,200 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 Medicine Bow
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 4 tornadoes within 25 miles of Medicine Bow. Most came in June. The strongest was an F1 on June 5, 1977, which touched down about 21 miles southeast of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 13, 2023, which touched down about 25 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 18 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 1 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.00-inch hail on June 9, 2024.
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 Medicine Bow'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.
Medicine Bow radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Medicine Bow, WY?
KCYS (Cheyenne, WY), about 89 miles southeast. KRIW (Riverton, WY) is 141 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Medicine Bow?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Medicine Bow the lowest scan from KCYS is about 8,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Medicine Bow 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 Medicine Bow, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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