Wilmington, DE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Wilmington, New Castle County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Wilmington?
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 Wilmington, 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 Wilmington get?
A normal year brings about 12 inches of snow to Wilmington, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Wilmington Porter Rsch weather station 2.7 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 Wilmington?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDIX (Philadelphia, NJ), about 61 miles east-northeast. 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 Wilmington | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDIX Philadelphia, NJ | 61 mi east-northeast | 4,700 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDOX Dover AFB, DE | 63 mi south | 4,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 117 mi west-southwest | 12,200 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 Wilmington
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 87 tornadoes within 25 miles of Wilmington, 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 17 miles north-northwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on August 8, 2024, which touched down about 6 miles west of town.
Hail: 170 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 Wilmington'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.
Wilmington radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Wilmington, DE?
KDIX (Philadelphia, NJ), about 61 miles east-northeast. KDOX (Dover AFB, DE) is 63 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Wilmington?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Wilmington the lowest scan from KDIX is about 4,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Wilmington 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 Wilmington, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Bellefonte, DE radar 3 mi
- Elsmere, DE radar 3 mi
- New Castle, DE radar 5 mi
- Delaware City, DE radar 12 mi
- Newark, DE radar 13 mi
- Middletown, DE radar 22 mi
- Townsend, DE radar 25 mi
- Smyrna, DE radar 31 mi
- Clayton, DE radar 32 mi
- Cheswold, DE radar 36 mi