Urbana, MD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Urbana, Frederick County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Urbana?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 246 days in the Frederick forecast zone and Frederick County — the most common reported hazard around Urbana, mostly in July and June. Next come flooding (93 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (82 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 246 | Jun 2026 | Jun 14, 2026 · $1.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 93 | May 2025 | Jan 19, 1996 · $15 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 82 | Feb 2026 | Dec 5, 2003 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 59 | Jul 2025 | Jun 27, 2006 · 5 deaths · $500,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 45 | Jun 2025 | Jul 21, 2019 · 1 death |
| High winds | 34 | Feb 2026 | Dec 23, 2022 · 1 death |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 20 | Aug 2021 | Aug 11, 2021 · 1 death · $300,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 19 | Feb 2026 | — |
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 Frederick forecast zone and Frederick County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Urbana get?
A normal year brings about 31 inches of snow to Urbana, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Damascus 3 Ssw weather station 7.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (11.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.8 | 5.1 | 9.4 | 11.1 | 4.8 | 0.2 | 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 Urbana?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 25 miles south-southwest. 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 Urbana | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 25 mi south-southwest | 1,500 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KDOX Dover AFB, DE | 108 mi east-southeast | 10,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KCCX State College, PA | 116 mi north-northwest | 12,000 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 Urbana
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 104 tornadoes within 25 miles of Urbana, 13 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F3 on September 5, 1979, which passed about 23 miles south of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on June 5, 2024, which touched down about 20 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 300 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 21 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.00-inch hail on July 2, 1968.
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 Urbana'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.
Urbana radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Urbana, MD?
KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 25 miles south-southwest. KDOX (Dover AFB, DE) is 108 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Urbana?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Urbana the lowest scan from KLWX is about 1,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Urbana 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 Urbana, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- New Market, MD radar 6 mi
- Frederick, MD radar 8 mi
- Walkersville, MD radar 10 mi
- Mount Airy, MD radar 11 mi
- Middletown, MD radar 13 mi
- Poolesville, MD radar 13 mi
- Woodsboro, MD radar 14 mi
- Gaithersburg, MD radar 15 mi
- Brunswick, MD radar 15 mi
- Myersville, MD radar 18 mi