Charlestown, MD Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for CharlestownWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Charlestown?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 176 days in the Cecil forecast zone and Cecil County — the most common reported hazard around Charlestown, mostly in July and June. Next come excessive heat (81 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (61 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds176May 2026Sep 18, 2004 · 2 deaths
Excessive heat81Jun 2025Jun 23, 2010 · 1 death
Heavy snow & winter storms61Feb 2026Feb 9, 2010 · $1.0 million damage
Flash flooding44Jul 2025Sep 16, 1999 · $3.0 million damage
Flooding39Jul 2025Sep 18, 2004 · $1.0 million damage
Extreme cold & wind chill30Feb 2026—
High winds26Feb 2025Nov 13, 2003 · $65,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage18Jun 2013Aug 25, 2011 · $280,000 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 Cecil forecast zone and Cecil County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Charlestown?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDOX (Dover AFB, DE), about 60 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 CharlestownView
KDOX
Dover AFB, DE		60 mi south-southeast4,600 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KDIX
Philadelphia, NJ		87 mi east-northeast7,800 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KLWX
Sterling, MD		91 mi west-southwest8,300 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation

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 Charlestown

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 85 tornadoes within 25 miles of Charlestown, 18 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and August. The strongest was an F3 on July 27, 1994, which passed about 15 miles northeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on September 4, 2025, which touched down about 21 miles north-northwest of town.

Hail: 118 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 3 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.25-inch hail on August 18, 2011.

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 Charlestown'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.

Charlestown radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Charlestown, MD?

KDOX (Dover AFB, DE), about 60 miles south-southeast. KDIX (Philadelphia, NJ) is 87 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Charlestown?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Charlestown the lowest scan from KDOX is about 4,600 ft up.

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

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