Washington, DC Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Washington, District of Columbia County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Washington?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 157 days in the District of Columbia forecast zone and District of Columbia County — the most common reported hazard around Washington, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (73 days) and excessive heat (70 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 157 | Jun 2026 | Aug 3, 2002 · 1 death · $30,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 73 | Jul 2025 | Jun 25, 2006 · $10 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 70 | Jun 2025 | Jul 4, 1999 · 3 deaths |
| Flooding | 61 | Jan 2024 | Jan 20, 1996 · $10 million damage |
| Coastal flooding | 50 | May 2025 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 35 | Jan 2026 | Jan 26, 2011 · 1 death |
| High winds | 15 | Feb 2026 | Jan 14, 2006 · $250,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 13 | Feb 2026 | Feb 5, 2002 · 2 deaths |
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 District of Columbia forecast zone and District of Columbia County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Washington get?
A normal year brings about 9.7 inches of snow to Washington, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Natl Arboretum Dc weather station 2.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (4.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 4.7 | 2.3 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 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 Washington?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 26 miles west. 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 Washington | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 26 mi west | 1,500 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KDOX Dover AFB, DE | 85 mi east | 7,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 133 mi south | 14,900 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 Washington
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 113 tornadoes within 25 miles of Washington, 13 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F3 on September 24, 2001, which passed about 3 miles northeast of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on June 18, 2025, which touched down about 20 miles east-northeast of town.
Hail: 476 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 30 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.00-inch hail on July 2, 1968.
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 Washington'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.
Washington radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Washington, DC?
KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 26 miles west. KDOX (Dover AFB, DE) is 85 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Washington?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Washington the lowest scan from KLWX is about 1,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Washington 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 Washington, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.