Madison, NC Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Madison, Rockingham County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Madison?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 216 days in the Rockingham forecast zone and Rockingham County — the most common reported hazard around Madison, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (40 days) and flash flooding (36 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 216 | Jun 2026 | Jul 13, 2006 · $900,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 40 | Jan 2026 | Feb 4, 2010 · $200,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 36 | Sep 2024 | Oct 11, 2018 · $2.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 29 | Sep 2024 | Sep 3, 1996 · $100,000 damage |
| High winds | 19 | Feb 2025 | Sep 5, 1996 · $500,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 12 | May 2026 | Jul 4, 1997 · $1.5 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Dec 2005 | Feb 1, 1996 · $10,000 damage |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 3 | Oct 2020 | Oct 29, 2020 · $100,000 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 Rockingham forecast zone and Rockingham County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Madison get?
A normal year brings about 8.7 inches of snow to Madison, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Danbury weather station 11.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (2.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 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 Madison?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFCX (Blacksburg, VA), about 47 miles north-northwest. 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 Madison | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFCX Blacksburg, VA | 47 mi north-northwest | 3,200 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KRAX Raleigh/Durham, NC | 97 mi east-southeast | 9,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KRLX Charleston, WV | 164 mi northwest | 20,900 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 Madison
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 42 tornadoes within 25 miles of Madison, 12 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F3 on March 20, 1998, which crossed near town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on September 27, 2024, which touched down about 10 miles east-northeast of town.
Hail: 311 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 16 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on June 7, 1955.
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 Madison'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.
Madison radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Madison, NC?
KFCX (Blacksburg, VA), about 47 miles north-northwest. KRAX (Raleigh/Durham, NC) is 97 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Madison?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Madison the lowest scan from KFCX is about 3,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Madison 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 Madison, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Mayodan, NC radar 2 mi
- Stoneville, NC radar 6 mi
- Stokesdale, NC radar 11 mi
- Walnut Cove, NC radar 12 mi
- Wentworth, NC radar 12 mi
- Summerfield, NC radar 14 mi
- Eden, NC radar 15 mi
- Oak Ridge, NC radar 15 mi
- Reidsville, NC radar 17 mi
- Walkertown, NC radar 20 mi