Laurel Hill, NC Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Laurel Hill, Scotland County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Laurel Hill?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 76 days in the Scotland forecast zone and Scotland County — the most common reported hazard around Laurel Hill, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (24 days) and flash flooding (20 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 76 | Jun 2026 | May 11, 2009 · $175,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 24 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 20 | Jul 2025 | Sep 15, 2018 · 2 deaths |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 9 | Sep 2022 | Sep 30, 2022 · $1.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 5 | Jul 2025 | Jul 25, 1999 · 1 death |
| High winds | 5 | Oct 2016 | Oct 8, 2016 · $500,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Dec 1998 | — |
| Flooding | 2 | Sep 2018 | Sep 17, 2018 · $35 million 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 Scotland forecast zone and Scotland County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Laurel Hill get?
A normal year brings about 1.1 inches of snow to Laurel Hill, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Laurinburg weather station 6.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (0.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 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 Laurel Hill?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRAX (Raleigh/Durham, NC), about 84 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 Laurel Hill | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRAX Raleigh/Durham, NC | 84 mi northeast | 7,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLTX Wilmington, NC | 85 mi southeast | 7,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KCAE Columbia, SC | 108 mi west-southwest | 10,800 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 Laurel Hill
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 64 tornadoes within 25 miles of Laurel Hill, 11 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in September and May. The strongest was an F4 on March 28, 1984, which passed about 10 miles south of town and caused 7 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on May 14, 2024, which touched down about 18 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 148 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 2 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on February 24, 2016.
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 Laurel 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.
Laurel Hill radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Laurel Hill, NC?
KRAX (Raleigh/Durham, NC), about 84 miles northeast. KLTX (Wilmington, NC) is 85 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Laurel Hill?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Laurel Hill the lowest scan from KRAX is about 7,400 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Laurel 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 Laurel Hill, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Laurinburg, NC radar 5 mi
- Hamlet, NC radar 11 mi
- Maxton, NC radar 12 mi
- Rockingham, NC radar 15 mi
- Red Springs, NC radar 21 mi
- Pinebluff, NC radar 21 mi
- Raeford, NC radar 21 mi
- Pembroke, NC radar 22 mi
- Aberdeen, NC radar 23 mi
- Foxfire, NC radar 26 mi