Chapel Hill, NC Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Chapel Hill, Orange County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Chapel Hill?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 162 days in the Orange forecast zone and Orange County — the most common reported hazard around Chapel Hill, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (44 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (37 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 162 | Jun 2026 | Jun 28, 2020 · 1 death · $50,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 44 | Jul 2025 | Jul 6, 2025 · 1 death · $20,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 37 | Jan 2026 | Feb 25, 2015 · $1.0 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 10 | May 2022 | Jun 11, 2006 · 1 death |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 6 | Sep 2022 | Sep 30, 2022 · $750,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 6 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Mar 2014 | Mar 6, 2014 · $2.7 million damage |
| High winds | 4 | Feb 2010 | Feb 10, 2010 · $1,000 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 Orange forecast zone and Orange County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Chapel Hill get?
A normal year brings about 2.8 inches of snow to Chapel Hill, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Chapel Hill 2 W weather station 2.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (1.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 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 Chapel Hill?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRAX (Raleigh/Durham, NC), about 36 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 Chapel Hill | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRAX Raleigh/Durham, NC | 36 mi east-southeast | 2,300 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KFCX Blacksburg, VA | 102 mi northwest | 9,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 135 mi east-northeast | 15,200 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 Chapel Hill
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 53 tornadoes within 25 miles of Chapel Hill, 11 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in March and May. The strongest was an F4 on November 27, 1988, which passed about 17 miles east-southeast of town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on July 6, 2025, which touched down about 24 miles south of town.
Hail: 351 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 19 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 Chapel Hill'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.
Chapel Hill radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Chapel Hill, NC?
KRAX (Raleigh/Durham, NC), about 36 miles east-southeast. KFCX (Blacksburg, VA) is 102 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Chapel Hill?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Chapel Hill the lowest scan from KRAX is about 2,300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Chapel Hill 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 Chapel Hill, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Carrboro, NC radar 3 mi
- Durham, NC radar 9 mi
- Hillsborough, NC radar 11 mi
- Morrisville, NC radar 13 mi
- Pittsboro, NC radar 15 mi
- Cary, NC radar 16 mi
- Apex, NC radar 17 mi
- Mebane, NC radar 17 mi
- Swepsonville, NC radar 19 mi
- Haw River, NC radar 21 mi