Bolton, NC Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Bolton What TALON shows

What weather hits Bolton?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 121 days in the Columbus forecast zone and Columbus County — the most common reported hazard around Bolton, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (28 days) and lightning casualties & damage (16 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds	121	Jun 2026	Jun 26, 2009 · $100,000 damage
Flash flooding	28	Oct 2025	Sep 15, 1999 · 1 death · $40 million damage
Lightning casualties & damage	16	Jul 2023	Jul 24, 1999 · 2 deaths
Heavy snow & winter storms	12	Feb 2026	Dec 26, 2010 · $5,000 damage
Flooding	12	Aug 2025	Jun 25, 2013 · $10,000 damage
Hurricanes & tropical storms	9	Sep 2022	Oct 8, 2016 · 1 death · $91 million damage
High winds	7	Mar 2004	Jul 12, 1996 · 1 death · $16 million damage
Excessive heat	5	Jun 2015	Jul 20, 1999 · 1 death

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

Which radars cover Bolton?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLTX (Wilmington, NC), about 23 miles south. 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 Bolton	View
KLTX Wilmington, NC	23 mi south	1,300 ft	Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KMHX Morehead City, NC	92 mi east-northeast	8,500 ft	Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KRAX Raleigh/Durham, NC	93 mi north	8,600 ft	Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation

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 Bolton

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 71 tornadoes within 25 miles of Bolton, 12 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and September. The strongest was an F3 on November 16, 2006, which touched down about 9 miles east of town and caused 8 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on March 16, 2025, which passed about 24 miles east-northeast of town.

Hail: 168 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 7 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on May 15, 2024.

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 Bolton'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.

Bolton radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Bolton, NC?

KLTX (Wilmington, NC), about 23 miles south. KMHX (Morehead City, NC) is 92 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Bolton?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Bolton the lowest scan from KLTX is about 1,300 ft up.

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

Radar for nearby towns

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