La Plata, MD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for La Plata, Charles County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits La Plata?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 207 days in the Charles forecast zone and Charles County — the most common reported hazard around La Plata, mostly in July and June. Next come excessive heat (79 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (35 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 207 | Jun 2026 | Jun 15, 2000 · 1 death · $5,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 79 | Jun 2025 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 35 | Jan 2026 | Feb 5, 2010 · $5,000 damage |
| Flooding | 30 | Jan 2024 | — |
| Flash flooding | 25 | Jun 2025 | Aug 25, 1999 · $200,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 12 | Feb 2026 | Mar 11, 1998 · $3,000 damage |
| High winds | 10 | Feb 2026 | Oct 29, 2012 · $969,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 7 | Jun 2008 | Jul 10, 2000 · $50,000 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 Charles forecast zone and Charles County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does La Plata get?
A normal year brings about 15 inches of snow to La Plata, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Mechanicsville 5 Ne weather station 13.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (6.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 5.0 | 6.2 | 1.8 | 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 La Plata?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 41 miles northwest. 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 La Plata | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 41 mi northwest | 2,700 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KDOX Dover AFB, DE | 85 mi east-northeast | 7,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 108 mi south | 10,800 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 La Plata
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 106 tornadoes within 25 miles of La Plata, 15 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and May. The strongest was an F4 on April 28, 2002, which crossed near town and caused 3 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on June 8, 2022, which passed about 16 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 272 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 19 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on April 28, 2002.
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 La Plata'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.
La Plata radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to La Plata, MD?
KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 41 miles northwest. KDOX (Dover AFB, DE) is 85 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in La Plata?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over La Plata the lowest scan from KLWX is about 2,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for La Plata 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 La Plata, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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