Carolina Shores, NC Live Doppler Radar

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

What weather hits Carolina Shores?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 74 days in the Coastal Brunswick forecast zone and Brunswick County — the most common reported hazard around Carolina Shores, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (46 days) and lightning casualties & damage (26 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds74Jun 2026Apr 15, 2007 · $150,000 damage
Flash flooding46May 2025Oct 8, 2016 · $1.0 million damage
Lightning casualties & damage26Jul 2025Jul 17, 2004 · 1 death
Flooding23Sep 2024Sep 16, 2024 · 1 death
Hurricanes & tropical storms8Sep 2022Aug 26, 2011 · $100,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms5Feb 2026—
Coastal flooding4Oct 2015Oct 3, 2015 · $20,000 damage
Excessive heat3Jun 2015—

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

Which radars cover Carolina Shores?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLTX (Wilmington, NC), about 10 miles 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 Carolina ShoresView
KLTX
Wilmington, NC
10 mi northeast500 ftExcellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KMHX
Morehead City, NC
114 mi east-northeast11,700 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KRAX
Raleigh/Durham, NC
122 mi north13,000 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 Carolina Shores

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 61 tornadoes within 25 miles of Carolina Shores, 12 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in September and October. The strongest was an EF3 on February 15, 2021, which passed about 4 miles east of town and caused 3 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on August 6, 2024, which touched down about 5 miles north of town.

Hail: 134 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 August 28, 2000.

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 Carolina Shores'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.

Carolina Shores radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Carolina Shores, NC?

KLTX (Wilmington, NC), about 10 miles northeast. KMHX (Morehead City, NC) is 114 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Carolina Shores?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Carolina Shores the lowest scan from KLTX is about 500 ft up.

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

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