Wilmington Island, GA Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Wilmington Island, Chatham County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for Wilmington IslandWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Wilmington Island?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 219 days in the Coastal Chatham forecast zone and Chatham County — the most common reported hazard around Wilmington Island, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (44 days) and lightning casualties & damage (39 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds219Jun 2026Aug 8, 2023 · 1 death
Flash flooding44May 2026Jun 29, 1999 · $7.0 million damage
Lightning casualties & damage39Jul 2025Jun 12, 2021 · 1 death
Flooding2Aug 2025Apr 23, 2018 · $2,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms2Jan 2025—

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 Coastal Chatham forecast zone and Chatham County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Wilmington Island?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KCLX (Charleston, SC), about 45 miles north. 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over Wilmington IslandView
KCLX
Charleston, SC		45 mi north3,100 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KJAX
Jacksonville, FL		113 mi south-southwest11,600 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KCAE
Columbia, SC		135 mi north15,300 ftLimited — 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 Island

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 56 tornadoes within 25 miles of Wilmington Island, 7 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and September. The strongest was an F3 on April 9, 1998, which passed about 25 miles northwest of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on July 10, 2025, which touched down about 13 miles north-northwest of town.

Hail: 187 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 14 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.50-inch hail on April 5, 1993.

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 Island'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 Island radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Wilmington Island, GA?

KCLX (Charleston, SC), about 45 miles north. KJAX (Jacksonville, FL) is 113 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Wilmington Island?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Wilmington Island the lowest scan from KCLX is about 3,100 ft up — good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly.

Is TALON's radar for Wilmington Island 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 Island, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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