Swanton, MD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Swanton, Garrett County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Swanton?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 99 days in the Eastern Garrett forecast zone and Garrett County — the most common reported hazard around Swanton, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (44 days) and flooding (12 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 99 | Jun 2026 | Apr 19, 2025 · $1.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 44 | May 2025 | Jan 19, 1996 · $3.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 12 | Sep 2021 | Feb 29, 2012 · $50,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 7 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 6 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | May 2024 | May 11, 2024 · $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 Eastern Garrett forecast zone and Garrett County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Swanton get?
A normal year brings about 105 inches of snow to Swanton, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Oakland 1 Se weather station 9.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (30.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 | 6.4 | 21.4 | 30.2 | 22.0 | 19.6 | 3.7 | 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 Swanton?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPBZ (Pittsburgh, PA), about 91 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 Swanton | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPBZ Pittsburgh, PA | 91 mi northwest | 8,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 99 mi east-southeast | 9,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KCCX State College, PA | 120 mi north-northeast | 12,700 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 Swanton
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 26 tornadoes within 25 miles of Swanton, 10 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F4 on June 2, 1998, which passed about 24 miles northeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on August 31, 2024, which touched down about 25 miles northeast of town.
Hail: 84 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 Swanton'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.
Swanton radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Swanton, MD?
KPBZ (Pittsburgh, PA), about 91 miles northwest. KLWX (Sterling, MD) is 99 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Swanton?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Swanton the lowest scan from KPBZ is about 8,300 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Swanton 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 Swanton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Mountain Lake Park, MD radar 9 mi
- Oakland, MD radar 10 mi
- Westernport, MD radar 10 mi
- Frostburg, MD radar 21 mi
- Cumberland, MD radar 29 mi
- Hancock, MD radar 59 mi