Briar Chapel, NC Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Briar Chapel, Chatham County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Briar Chapel?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 168 days in the Chatham forecast zone and Chatham County — the most common reported hazard around Briar Chapel, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (32 days) and flash flooding (27 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 168 | Jun 2026 | May 20, 2008 · $125,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 32 | Jan 2026 | Feb 25, 2015 · $500,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 27 | Aug 2025 | Jul 6, 2025 · 2 deaths |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 8 | Sep 2022 | Sep 13, 2018 · $1.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 6 | Sep 2018 | Sep 17, 2018 · $26 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 6 | Jul 2025 | — |
| High winds | 4 | Feb 2010 | Feb 10, 2010 · $1,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 3 | Dec 1998 | — |
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 Chatham forecast zone and Chatham County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Briar Chapel get?
A normal year brings about 2.8 inches of snow to Briar Chapel, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Chapel Hill 2 W weather station 6.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (1.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 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 Briar Chapel?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRAX (Raleigh/Durham, NC), about 37 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 Briar Chapel | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRAX Raleigh/Durham, NC | 37 mi east-southeast | 2,400 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KFCX Blacksburg, VA | 105 mi northwest | 10,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KLTX Wilmington, NC | 133 mi south-southeast | 14,900 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 Briar Chapel
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 54 tornadoes within 25 miles of Briar Chapel, 12 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and May. The strongest was an F4 on November 27, 1988, which passed about 21 miles east of town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on July 6, 2025, which touched down about 17 miles south of town.
Hail: 321 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 17 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on September 1, 2017.
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 Briar Chapel'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.
Briar Chapel radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Briar Chapel, NC?
KRAX (Raleigh/Durham, NC), about 37 miles east-southeast. KFCX (Blacksburg, VA) is 105 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Briar Chapel?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Briar Chapel the lowest scan from KRAX is about 2,400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Briar Chapel 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 Briar Chapel, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Chapel Hill, NC radar 8 mi
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- Morrisville, NC radar 16 mi
- Durham, NC radar 16 mi
- Cary, NC radar 17 mi
- Hillsborough, NC radar 18 mi
- Holly Springs, NC radar 19 mi
- Swepsonville, NC radar 19 mi