Lake Chaffee, CT Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lake Chaffee, Windham County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lake Chaffee?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 90 days in the Windham forecast zone and Windham County — the most common reported hazard around Lake Chaffee, mostly in July and August. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (83 days) and high winds (19 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 90 | May 2026 | Jun 26, 2024 · 1 death · $500 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 83 | Feb 2026 | Dec 7, 1996 · $1.0 million damage |
| High winds | 19 | Dec 2025 | Oct 29, 2012 · $438,000 damage |
| Flooding | 12 | Sep 2023 | Oct 15, 2005 · 1 death · $600,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 9 | Jun 2024 | Aug 12, 2016 · $100,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 8 | Jun 2023 | Aug 12, 2016 · $15,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 4 | Jul 2018 | — |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 2 | Aug 2020 | Aug 28, 2011 · $20 million 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 Windham forecast zone and Windham County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Lake Chaffee get?
A normal year brings about 39 inches of snow to Lake Chaffee, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Storrs weather station 10 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (14.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 1.1 | 7.2 | 8.3 | 14.1 | 6.3 | 1.7 | 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 Lake Chaffee?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBOX (Boston, MA), about 54 miles east. 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 Lake Chaffee | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBOX Boston, MA | 54 mi east | 4,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KOKX Upton, NY | 82 mi south-southwest | 7,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KENX Albany, NY | 105 mi west-northwest | 10,400 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 Lake Chaffee
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 53 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lake Chaffee, 9 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and July. The strongest was an F4 on October 3, 1979, which passed about 25 miles west of town and caused 3 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on September 13, 2023, which touched down about 21 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 129 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 9 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on July 26, 2011.
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 Lake Chaffee'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.
Lake Chaffee radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lake Chaffee, CT?
KBOX (Boston, MA), about 54 miles east. KOKX (Upton, NY) is 82 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lake Chaffee?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lake Chaffee the lowest scan from KBOX is about 4,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Lake Chaffee 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 Lake Chaffee, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Danielson, CT radar 18 mi
- Jewett City, CT radar 25 mi
- Norwich, CT radar 28 mi
- Hartford, CT radar 28 mi
- New Britain, CT radar 35 mi
- Middletown, CT radar 36 mi
- Meriden, CT radar 41 mi
- New London, CT radar 42 mi
- Bristol, CT radar 42 mi
- Groton, CT radar 43 mi