Ashton-Sandy Spring, MD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Ashton-Sandy Spring, Montgomery County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Ashton-Sandy Spring?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 277 days in the Central and Southeast Montgomery forecast zone and Montgomery County — the most common reported hazard around Ashton-Sandy Spring, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (101 days) and flooding (87 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 277 | Jun 2026 | Jun 26, 2009 · 2 deaths |
| Flash flooding | 101 | Jul 2025 | Jun 27, 2015 · 2 deaths · $10,000 damage |
| Flooding | 87 | Jul 2025 | Nov 16, 2006 · $50,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 34 | May 2024 | Jul 25, 2010 · 1 death |
| Excessive heat | 23 | Jul 2024 | Jul 20, 2019 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 11 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 9 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 8 | Feb 2026 | — |
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 Central and Southeast Montgomery forecast zone and Montgomery County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Ashton-Sandy Spring get?
A normal year brings about 16 inches of snow to Ashton-Sandy Spring, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Beltsville weather station 8.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (5.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.2 | 2.3 | 5.7 | 5.0 | 2.5 | 0.1 | 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 Ashton-Sandy Spring?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 29 miles west-southwest. 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 Ashton-Sandy Spring | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 29 mi west-southwest | 1,700 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KDOX Dover AFB, DE | 87 mi east-southeast | 7,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KCCX State College, PA | 134 mi north-northwest | 15,100 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 Ashton-Sandy Spring
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 121 tornadoes within 25 miles of Ashton-Sandy Spring, 16 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F3 on September 24, 2001, which passed about 6 miles east-southeast of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on June 18, 2025, which touched down about 17 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 424 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 24 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 Ashton-Sandy Spring'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.
Ashton-Sandy Spring radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Ashton-Sandy Spring, MD?
KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 29 miles west-southwest. KDOX (Dover AFB, DE) is 87 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Ashton-Sandy Spring?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Ashton-Sandy Spring the lowest scan from KLWX is about 1,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Ashton-Sandy Spring 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 Ashton-Sandy Spring, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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