Smith Island, MD Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Smith IslandWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Smith Island?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 46 days in the Somerset forecast zone and Somerset County — the most common reported hazard around Smith Island, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (38 days) and coastal flooding (22 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds46Jul 2025Aug 16, 2003 · $100,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms38Feb 2026Feb 19, 2025 · $1,000 damage
Coastal flooding22Oct 2025Oct 29, 2012 · $5.0 million damage
Hurricanes & tropical storms10Jul 2021Aug 27, 2011 · $1.1 million damage
Flash flooding7Jul 2025—
Flooding7Aug 2021Oct 9, 2016 · $500,000 damage
High winds5Oct 2018Sep 1, 2006 · $1.0 million damage
Excessive heat4Jun 2025—

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

Which radars cover Smith Island?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDOX (Dover AFB, DE), about 67 miles north-northeast. 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 Smith IslandView
KDOX
Dover AFB, DE		67 mi north-northeast5,300 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KAKQ
Wakefield, VA		87 mi southwest7,800 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KLWX
Sterling, MD		105 mi northwest10,300 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 Smith Island

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 22 tornadoes within 25 miles of Smith Island, 3 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and May. The strongest was an EF2 on August 4, 2020, which passed about 24 miles west-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on August 4, 2022, which touched down near town.

Hail: 32 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 1 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.00-inch hail on September 5, 1960.

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 Smith Island'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.

Smith Island radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Smith Island, MD?

KDOX (Dover AFB, DE), about 67 miles north-northeast. KAKQ (Wakefield, VA) is 87 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Smith Island?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Smith Island the lowest scan from KDOX is about 5,300 ft up.

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

Radar for nearby towns

All Maryland towns →