Cary, NC Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Cary, Wake County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Cary?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 300 days in the Wake forecast zone and Wake County — the most common reported hazard around Cary, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (142 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (36 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 300 | Jun 2026 | May 4, 2019 · 1 death · $10,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 142 | Aug 2025 | Nov 12, 2020 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 36 | Jan 2026 | Feb 25, 2015 · $1.0 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 35 | Jul 2023 | Jul 28, 2018 · 1 death |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 13 | Sep 2022 | Sep 5, 1996 · 3 deaths |
| Flooding | 9 | Dec 2023 | Sep 17, 2018 · $25 million damage |
| High winds | 7 | Feb 2010 | Apr 1, 1997 · 1 death |
| Excessive heat | 7 | Jul 2025 | — |
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 Wake forecast zone and Wake County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Cary get?
A normal year brings about 4.8 inches of snow to Cary, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Apex weather station 2.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (2.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 2.9 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 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 Cary?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRAX (Raleigh/Durham, NC), about 20 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 Cary | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRAX Raleigh/Durham, NC | 20 mi east-southeast | 1,100 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KFCX Blacksburg, VA | 118 mi northwest | 12,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KLTX Wilmington, NC | 126 mi south | 13,700 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 Cary
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 65 tornadoes within 25 miles of Cary, 15 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and March. The strongest was an F4 on November 27, 1988, which passed about 7 miles northeast of town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on July 6, 2025, which touched down about 21 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 383 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 24 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on March 28, 2005.
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 Cary'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.
Cary radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Cary, NC?
KRAX (Raleigh/Durham, NC), about 20 miles east-southeast. KFCX (Blacksburg, VA) is 118 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Cary?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Cary the lowest scan from KRAX is about 1,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Cary 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 Cary, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Morrisville, NC radar 4 mi
- Apex, NC radar 5 mi
- Holly Springs, NC radar 9 mi
- Raleigh, NC radar 11 mi
- Fuquay-Varina, NC radar 13 mi
- Garner, NC radar 13 mi
- Durham, NC radar 14 mi
- Chapel Hill, NC radar 16 mi
- Carrboro, NC radar 18 mi
- Knightdale, NC radar 18 mi