Glenwood, NC Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Glenwood, McDowell County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Glenwood?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 150 days in the Eastern McDowell forecast zone and McDowell County — the most common reported hazard around Glenwood, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (35 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (18 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 150 | Jun 2026 | May 2, 2003 · $250,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 35 | Aug 2025 | Sep 26, 2024 · 1 death · $100 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 18 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 13 | Sep 2024 | May 5, 2013 · $250,000 damage |
| High winds | 12 | Feb 2026 | Apr 16, 2007 · $500,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 7 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 4 | Aug 2019 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 3 | Jan 2019 | — |
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 Eastern McDowell forecast zone and McDowell County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Glenwood get?
A normal year brings about 7.1 inches of snow to Glenwood, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Marion weather station 5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (2.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 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 Glenwood?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGSP (Greer, SC), about 52 miles south-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 Glenwood | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KGSP Greer, SC | 52 mi south-southwest | 3,800 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMRX Knoxville, TN | 88 mi west-northwest | 7,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KCAE Columbia, SC | 125 mi south-southeast | 13,600 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 Glenwood
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 29 tornadoes within 25 miles of Glenwood, 5 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and October. The strongest was an F4 on May 5, 1989, which passed about 25 miles east-southeast of town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on December 29, 2024, which touched down about 22 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 281 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 20 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 24, 2000.
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 Glenwood'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.
Glenwood radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Glenwood, NC?
KGSP (Greer, SC), about 52 miles south-southwest. KMRX (Knoxville, TN) is 88 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Glenwood?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Glenwood the lowest scan from KGSP is about 3,800 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Glenwood 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 Glenwood, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Marion, NC radar 4 mi
- Glen Alpine, NC radar 14 mi
- Lake Lure, NC radar 17 mi
- Rutherfordton, NC radar 17 mi
- Montreat, NC radar 18 mi
- Spindale, NC radar 18 mi
- Morganton, NC radar 18 mi
- Black Mountain, NC radar 19 mi
- Forest City, NC radar 20 mi
- Spruce Pine, NC radar 21 mi