Castalia, NC Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Castalia, Nash County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Castalia?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 131 days in the Nash forecast zone and Nash County — the most common reported hazard around Castalia, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (37 days) and flash flooding (28 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 131 | Jun 2026 | Jul 2, 1996 · $60,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 37 | Jan 2026 | Feb 25, 2015 · $500,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 28 | Aug 2025 | Sep 15, 1999 · 4 deaths |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 12 | Sep 2022 | Aug 4, 2020 · $1.0 million damage |
| High winds | 6 | Aug 2011 | Aug 27, 2011 · 1 death · $350,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 6 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 6 | Jun 2022 | Aug 17, 2003 · $710,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | 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 Nash forecast zone and Nash County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Castalia get?
A normal year brings about 1.7 inches of snow to Castalia, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Louisburg weather station 13.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (0.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 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 Castalia?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRAX (Raleigh/Durham, NC), about 38 miles 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 Castalia | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRAX Raleigh/Durham, NC | 38 mi southwest | 2,400 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 85 mi northeast | 7,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMHX Morehead City, NC | 112 mi southeast | 11,500 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 Castalia
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 52 tornadoes within 25 miles of Castalia, 15 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on November 27, 1988, which passed about 5 miles north-northwest of town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was an EF3 on September 27, 2024, which touched down about 16 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 160 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 9 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on July 1, 2012.
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 Castalia'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.
Castalia radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Castalia, NC?
KRAX (Raleigh/Durham, NC), about 38 miles southwest. KAKQ (Wakefield, VA) is 85 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Castalia?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Castalia the lowest scan from KRAX is about 2,400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Castalia 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 Castalia, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Red Oak, NC radar 9 mi
- Nashville, NC radar 10 mi
- Spring Hope, NC radar 10 mi
- Dortches, NC radar 12 mi
- Louisburg, NC radar 14 mi
- Rocky Mount, NC radar 16 mi
- Sharpsburg, NC radar 20 mi
- Franklinton, NC radar 22 mi
- Elm City, NC radar 22 mi
- Zebulon, NC radar 23 mi