Gaston, NC Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Gaston, Northampton County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Gaston?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 66 days in the Northampton forecast zone and Northampton County — the most common reported hazard around Gaston, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (31 days) and flash flooding (14 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 66 | Jul 2025 | Jul 3, 1996 · $250,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 31 | Feb 2026 | Feb 19, 2025 · $1,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 14 | Jul 2025 | Sep 16, 1999 · $22 million damage |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 7 | Aug 2020 | Aug 27, 2011 · $12 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 5 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 5 | Nov 2020 | Oct 8, 2016 · $500,000 damage |
| High winds | 3 | Apr 2000 | Apr 8, 2000 · $30,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 2 | May 2010 | May 27, 2010 · $3,000 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 Northampton forecast zone and Northampton County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Gaston get?
A normal year brings about 5.0 inches of snow to Gaston, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Jackson weather station 14.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (2.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 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 Gaston?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KAKQ (Wakefield, VA), about 49 miles northeast. 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 Gaston | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 49 mi northeast | 3,400 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KRAX Raleigh/Durham, NC | 74 mi southwest | 6,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMHX Morehead City, NC | 126 mi south-southeast | 13,800 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 Gaston
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 46 tornadoes within 25 miles of Gaston, 10 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and March. The strongest was an F4 on November 27, 1988, which passed about 9 miles south-southeast of town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on January 4, 2023, which touched down about 19 miles east-northeast of town.
Hail: 96 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 9 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on May 9, 2003.
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 Gaston'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.
Gaston radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Gaston, NC?
KAKQ (Wakefield, VA), about 49 miles northeast. KRAX (Raleigh/Durham, NC) is 74 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Gaston?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Gaston the lowest scan from KAKQ is about 3,400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Gaston 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 Gaston, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Roanoke Rapids, NC radar 3 mi
- Weldon, NC radar 5 mi
- Enfield, NC radar 22 mi
- Scotland Neck, NC radar 28 mi
- Murfreesboro, NC radar 31 mi
- Red Oak, NC radar 33 mi
- Dortches, NC radar 35 mi
- Rocky Mount, NC radar 38 mi
- Ahoskie, NC radar 39 mi
- Nashville, NC radar 40 mi