Big Spring, MD Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Big Spring, Washington County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for Big SpringWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Big Spring?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 179 days in the Washington forecast zone and Washington County — the most common reported hazard around Big Spring, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (75 days) and excessive heat (46 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds179Jun 2026Apr 19, 2025 · $500,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms75Feb 2026—
Excessive heat46Jun 2025—
Flooding39May 2025Jan 19, 1996 · $15 million damage
Flash flooding31Jul 2024May 15, 2018 · $4.6 million damage
High winds26Feb 2025Oct 29, 2012 · $694,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill19Feb 2026—
Ice storms & sleet11Feb 2025Jan 15, 1998 · $10,000 damage

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

Which radars cover Big Spring?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 51 miles south-southeast. 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 Big SpringView
KLWX
Sterling, MD		51 mi south-southeast3,700 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KCCX
State College, PA		90 mi north8,200 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KPBZ
Pittsburgh, PA		136 mi west-northwest15,500 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 Big Spring

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 61 tornadoes within 25 miles of Big Spring, 6 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F2 on September 17, 2004, which touched down about 18 miles south-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on June 17, 2025, which touched down about 24 miles west-northwest of town.

Hail: 267 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 21 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on August 7, 2023.

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 Big 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.

Big Spring radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Big Spring, MD?

KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 51 miles south-southeast. KCCX (State College, PA) is 90 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Big Spring?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Big Spring the lowest scan from KLWX is about 3,700 ft up.

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

Radar for nearby towns

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