Old Fort, NC Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Old Fort, McDowell County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Old Fort?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 150 days in the McDowell Mountains forecast zone and McDowell County — the most common reported hazard around Old Fort, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (35 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (22 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 | 22 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 17 | Feb 2026 | Apr 16, 2007 · $500,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 14 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 13 | Sep 2024 | May 5, 2013 · $250,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 7 | Feb 2021 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 4 | Aug 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 McDowell Mountains forecast zone and McDowell County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Old Fort get?
A normal year brings about 2.1 inches of snow to Old Fort, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the N Fk 2 weather station 9.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (1.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 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 Old Fort?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGSP (Greer, SC), about 52 miles south. 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 Old Fort | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KGSP Greer, SC | 52 mi south | 3,700 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMRX Knoxville, TN | 78 mi west-northwest | 6,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KCAE Columbia, SC | 131 mi south-southeast | 14,600 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 Old Fort
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 21 tornadoes within 25 miles of Old Fort, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F2 on May 7, 1998, which passed about 11 miles east of town. The most recent was an EF0 on December 29, 2024, which touched down about 22 miles south of town.
Hail: 269 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 18 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 Old Fort'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.
Old Fort radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Old Fort, NC?
KGSP (Greer, SC), about 52 miles south. KMRX (Knoxville, TN) is 78 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Old Fort?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Old Fort the lowest scan from KGSP is about 3,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Old Fort 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 Old Fort, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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