Fort Ritchie, MD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Fort Ritchie, Washington County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Fort Ritchie?
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 Fort Ritchie, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (75 days) and excessive heat (46 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 179 | Jun 2026 | Apr 19, 2025 · $500,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 75 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 46 | Jun 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 39 | May 2025 | Jan 19, 1996 · $15 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 31 | Jul 2024 | May 15, 2018 · $4.6 million damage |
| High winds | 26 | Feb 2025 | Oct 29, 2012 · $694,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 19 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 11 | Feb 2025 | Jan 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.
How much snow does Fort Ritchie get?
A normal year brings about 33 inches of snow to Fort Ritchie, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the S Mtn weather station 10.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (10.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.6 | 5.2 | 10.6 | 9.5 | 6.5 | 0.6 | 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 Fort Ritchie?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 50 miles south. 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 Fort Ritchie | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 50 mi south | 3,600 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KCCX State College, PA | 88 mi north-northwest | 8,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDOX Dover AFB, DE | 126 mi east-southeast | 13,800 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 Fort Ritchie
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 75 tornadoes within 25 miles of Fort Ritchie, 9 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and June. The strongest was an F3 on May 22, 1983, which touched down about 14 miles east of town. The most recent was an EF0 on June 5, 2024, which touched down about 16 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 179 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 11 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 Fort Ritchie'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.
Fort Ritchie radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Fort Ritchie, MD?
KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 50 miles south. KCCX (State College, PA) is 88 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Fort Ritchie?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Fort Ritchie the lowest scan from KLWX is about 3,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Fort Ritchie 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 Fort Ritchie, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Boonsboro, MD radar 16 mi
- Walkersville, MD radar 18 mi
- Williamsport, MD radar 18 mi
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