Elsmere, DE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Elsmere, New Castle County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Elsmere?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 173 days in the New Castle forecast zone and New Castle County — the most common reported hazard around Elsmere, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (111 days) and excessive heat (95 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 173 | Mar 2026 | Jun 30, 2025 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 111 | Jun 2026 | Sep 16, 1999 · 2 deaths · $8.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 95 | Jun 2026 | Jul 4, 1999 · 2 deaths |
| Flooding | 87 | Jan 2024 | Oct 1, 2010 · $600,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 65 | Feb 2026 | Feb 25, 2007 · 2 deaths |
| High winds | 48 | Feb 2026 | Sep 18, 2003 · $9.5 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 40 | Jun 2025 | Jul 23, 2008 · $500,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 28 | Dec 2022 | Jan 26, 2007 · 1 death |
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 New Castle forecast zone and New Castle County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Elsmere get?
A normal year brings about 12 inches of snow to Elsmere, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Wilmington Porter Rsch weather station 3.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (5.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 5.3 | 4.0 | 1.8 | 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 Elsmere?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDOX (Dover AFB, DE), about 64 miles south. 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 Elsmere | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDOX Dover AFB, DE | 64 mi south | 5,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDIX Philadelphia, NJ | 64 mi east-northeast | 5,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 114 mi west-southwest | 11,800 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 Elsmere
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 88 tornadoes within 25 miles of Elsmere, 22 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and August. The strongest was an F3 on March 22, 1955, which passed about 16 miles north of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on August 8, 2024, which touched down about 3 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 155 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 6 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on May 29, 1995.
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 Elsmere'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.
Elsmere radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Elsmere, DE?
KDOX (Dover AFB, DE), about 64 miles south. KDIX (Philadelphia, NJ) is 64 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Elsmere?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Elsmere the lowest scan from KDOX is about 5,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Elsmere 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 Elsmere, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Wilmington, DE radar 3 mi
- New Castle, DE radar 5 mi
- Bellefonte, DE radar 5 mi
- Newark, DE radar 10 mi
- Delaware City, DE radar 11 mi
- Middletown, DE radar 21 mi
- Townsend, DE radar 24 mi
- Smyrna, DE radar 31 mi
- Clayton, DE radar 32 mi
- Cheswold, DE radar 36 mi