Hampstead, NC Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Hampstead, Pender County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for HampsteadWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Hampstead?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 79 days in the Inland Pender forecast zone and Pender County — the most common reported hazard around Hampstead, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (38 days) and flooding (15 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds79Mar 2026Mar 15, 2008 · $2.0 million damage
Flash flooding38Aug 2024Sep 15, 2018 · 1 death · $5.0 million damage
Flooding15Jul 2023Aug 9, 2014 · $20,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage14Jun 2025Jun 29, 2025 · 1 death
Hurricanes & tropical storms8Sep 2023Sep 14, 2018 · $300 million damage
Heavy snow & winter storms7Feb 2026Feb 11, 2014 · 1 death
Wildfires5Apr 2014Apr 4, 2014 · $46,000 damage
Excessive heat4Jun 2015—

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 Inland Pender forecast zone and Pender County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Hampstead?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLTX (Wilmington, NC), about 46 miles west-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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over HampsteadView
KLTX
Wilmington, NC		46 mi west-southwest3,200 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KMHX
Morehead City, NC		58 mi east-northeast4,300 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KRAX
Raleigh/Durham, NC		99 mi north-northwest9,500 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation

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 Hampstead

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 85 tornadoes within 25 miles of Hampstead, 5 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in September and August. The strongest was an F2 on August 13, 2004, which passed about 7 miles west-northwest of town and caused 3 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on July 6, 2025, which touched down about 10 miles southwest of town.

Hail: 141 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 4 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.50-inch hail on June 16, 1971.

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 Hampstead'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.

Hampstead radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Hampstead, NC?

KLTX (Wilmington, NC), about 46 miles west-southwest. KMHX (Morehead City, NC) is 58 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Hampstead?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Hampstead the lowest scan from KLTX is about 3,200 ft up.

Is TALON's radar for Hampstead 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 Hampstead, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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