National, MD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for National, Allegany County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits National?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 117 days in the Extreme Western Allegany forecast zone and Allegany County — the most common reported hazard around National, mostly in June and August. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (69 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (34 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 117 | Jun 2026 | Apr 19, 2025 · $500,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 69 | Jan 2026 | Mar 6, 2013 · $10,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 34 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 32 | May 2025 | Jan 19, 1996 · $7.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 30 | May 2025 | Sep 1, 2021 · $200,000 damage |
| High winds | 16 | Feb 2025 | Oct 29, 2012 · $452,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 8 | Feb 2025 | Dec 16, 2019 · $10,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 4 | Dec 2012 | — |
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 Extreme Western Allegany forecast zone and Allegany County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does National get?
A normal year brings about 72 inches of snow to National, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Frostburg 2 weather station 3.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (19.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 | 4.0 | 13.0 | 19.0 | 19.0 | 14.9 | 1.8 | 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 National?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 89 miles east-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.
| Radar | Distance | Lowest beam over National | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 89 mi east-southeast | 8,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KPBZ Pittsburgh, PA | 93 mi northwest | 8,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KCCX State College, PA | 103 mi north-northeast | 10,100 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 National
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 21 tornadoes within 25 miles of National, 5 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F4 on June 2, 1998, which passed about 6 miles northeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on August 31, 2024, which touched down about 8 miles north of town.
Hail: 103 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 4 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on July 26, 1993.
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 National'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.
National radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to National, MD?
KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 89 miles east-southeast. KPBZ (Pittsburgh, PA) is 93 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in National?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over National the lowest scan from KLWX is about 8,100 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for National 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 National, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Frostburg, MD radar 3 mi
- Cumberland, MD radar 10 mi
- Westernport, MD radar 10 mi
- Mountain Lake Park, MD radar 28 mi
- Oakland, MD radar 28 mi
- Hancock, MD radar 42 mi
- Williamsport, MD radar 60 mi