Elon, NC Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Elon, Alamance County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Elon?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 139 days in the Alamance forecast zone and Alamance County — the most common reported hazard around Elon, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (37 days) and flash flooding (36 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 139 | Jun 2026 | Jul 27, 2012 · $313,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 37 | Jan 2026 | Feb 25, 2015 · $500,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 36 | Jul 2025 | Jul 6, 2025 · 2 deaths |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 6 | Sep 2022 | Sep 5, 1996 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 6 | Sep 2018 | Sep 17, 2018 · $6.1 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 6 | Sep 2011 | Jun 15, 2010 · 1 death |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Jan 1999 | — |
| Excessive heat | 4 | 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 Alamance forecast zone and Alamance County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Elon get?
A normal year brings about 1.8 inches of snow to Elon, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Graham 2 Ene weather station 8.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (1.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 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 Elon?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRAX (Raleigh/Durham, NC), about 65 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 Elon | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRAX Raleigh/Durham, NC | 65 mi east-southeast | 5,100 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KFCX Blacksburg, VA | 77 mi north-northwest | 6,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 152 mi east-northeast | 18,500 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 Elon
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 44 tornadoes within 25 miles of Elon, 9 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and March. The strongest was an F3 on November 23, 1992, which passed about 18 miles east of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on July 6, 2025, which touched down about 11 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 253 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 17 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on June 3, 1998.
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 Elon'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.
Elon radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Elon, NC?
KRAX (Raleigh/Durham, NC), about 65 miles east-southeast. KFCX (Blacksburg, VA) is 77 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Elon?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Elon the lowest scan from KRAX is about 5,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Elon 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 Elon, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Gibsonville, NC radar 2 mi
- Burlington, NC radar 3 mi
- Alamance, NC radar 5 mi
- Graham, NC radar 7 mi
- Haw River, NC radar 8 mi
- Green Level, NC radar 9 mi
- Swepsonville, NC radar 10 mi
- Mebane, NC radar 13 mi
- Pleasant Garden, NC radar 17 mi
- Liberty, NC radar 17 mi