Castle Hayne, NC Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Castle Hayne, New Hanover County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Castle Hayne?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 83 days in the Inland New Hanover forecast zone and New Hanover County — the most common reported hazard around Castle Hayne, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (49 days) and lightning casualties & damage (37 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 83 | May 2026 | May 31, 2003 · $750,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 49 | Aug 2025 | Sep 16, 2018 · $2.0 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 37 | Jun 2026 | Aug 5, 2020 · 2 deaths · $2,000 damage |
| Flooding | 29 | Aug 2024 | Dec 24, 2014 · $10,000 damage |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 7 | Sep 2022 | Sep 14, 2018 · $1.0 billion damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 7 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 4 | Jun 2015 | — |
| High winds | 3 | Apr 2024 | Apr 26, 2019 · $10,000 damage |
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 Inland New Hanover forecast zone and New Hanover County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Castle Hayne?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLTX (Wilmington, NC), about 39 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 Castle Hayne | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLTX Wilmington, NC | 39 mi southwest | 2,600 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KMHX Morehead City, NC | 66 mi east-northeast | 5,200 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KRAX Raleigh/Durham, NC | 96 mi north-northwest | 9,100 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 Castle Hayne
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 96 tornadoes within 25 miles of Castle Hayne, 7 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in September and April. The strongest was an F3 on November 16, 2006, which touched down about 18 miles west of town and caused 8 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on July 6, 2025, which touched down about 5 miles south of town.
Hail: 168 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 4 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.50-inch hail on June 16, 1971.
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 Castle Hayne'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.
Castle Hayne radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Castle Hayne, NC?
KLTX (Wilmington, NC), about 39 miles southwest. KMHX (Morehead City, NC) is 66 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Castle Hayne?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Castle Hayne the lowest scan from KLTX is about 2,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Castle Hayne 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 Castle Hayne, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Navassa, NC radar 9 mi
- Wilmington, NC radar 10 mi
- Belville, NC radar 11 mi
- Wrightsville Beach, NC radar 12 mi
- Leland, NC radar 12 mi
- Burgaw, NC radar 14 mi
- Northwest, NC radar 14 mi
- Carolina Beach, NC radar 22 mi
- Holly Ridge, NC radar 22 mi
- Surf City, NC radar 22 mi