Cerro Gordo, NC Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Cerro Gordo, Columbus County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Cerro Gordo?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 121 days in the Columbus forecast zone and Columbus County — the most common reported hazard around Cerro Gordo, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (28 days) and lightning casualties & damage (16 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 121 | Jun 2026 | Jun 26, 2009 · $100,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 28 | Oct 2025 | Sep 15, 1999 · 1 death · $40 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 16 | Jul 2023 | Jul 24, 1999 · 2 deaths |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 12 | Feb 2026 | Dec 26, 2010 · $5,000 damage |
| Flooding | 12 | Aug 2025 | Jun 25, 2013 · $10,000 damage |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 9 | Sep 2022 | Oct 8, 2016 · 1 death · $91 million damage |
| High winds | 7 | Mar 2004 | Jul 12, 1996 · 1 death · $16 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 5 | Jun 2015 | Jul 20, 1999 · 1 death |
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 Columbus forecast zone and Columbus County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Cerro Gordo get?
A normal year brings about 1.2 inches of snow to Cerro Gordo, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Whiteville 7 Nw weather station 9.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (0.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 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 Cerro Gordo?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLTX (Wilmington, NC), about 37 miles 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 Cerro Gordo | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLTX Wilmington, NC | 37 mi southeast | 2,400 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KRAX Raleigh/Durham, NC | 96 mi north-northeast | 9,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMHX Morehead City, NC | 121 mi east-northeast | 12,900 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 Cerro Gordo
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 81 tornadoes within 25 miles of Cerro Gordo, 19 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in March and September. The strongest was an F3 on October 9, 1950, which touched down about 22 miles east-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 14, 2024, which touched down about 9 miles northeast of town.
Hail: 230 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 16 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on April 20, 2024.
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 Cerro Gordo'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.
Cerro Gordo radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Cerro Gordo, NC?
KLTX (Wilmington, NC), about 37 miles southeast. KRAX (Raleigh/Durham, NC) is 96 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Cerro Gordo?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Cerro Gordo the lowest scan from KLTX is about 2,400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Cerro Gordo 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 Cerro Gordo, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Chadbourn, NC radar 6 mi
- Tabor City, NC radar 12 mi
- Whiteville, NC radar 13 mi
- Fairmont, NC radar 16 mi
- Bladenboro, NC radar 17 mi
- Lumberton, NC radar 22 mi
- Lake Waccamaw, NC radar 24 mi
- Elizabethtown, NC radar 28 mi
- Pembroke, NC radar 29 mi
- St. Pauls, NC radar 34 mi