Raleigh, NC Live Doppler Radar
Watch storms move over Raleigh in real time — every NWS radar combined, storm tracks, official warnings, and the closest radar's full 250 m detail.
Which radars cover Raleigh?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar to Raleigh, NC is KRAX (Raleigh/Durham), about 11 miles to the southeast. Radar beams climb as they travel because the Earth curves away underneath them, so the height of the lowest scan over a city decides how much of a storm's base the radar can see.
| Radar | Distance | Lowest beam over Raleigh | View of low-level rotation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRAX Raleigh/Durham, NC | 11 mi southeast | 600 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan is close to the ground, where tornadoes form |
| KMHX Morehead City, NC | 121 mi southeast | 12,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 123 mi northeast | 13,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
Beam height is the center of the 0.5° scan above the radar, using standard atmospheric refraction. Hills and buildings near the radar can block it further.
On TALON you get Raleigh's live radar loop, storm tracks with arrival times and NWS warnings free; close-up radar and rotation detection are part of TALON Pro.
Tornado & hail history near Raleigh
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 75 tornadoes within 25 miles of Raleigh, 15 of them rated EF2/F2 or stronger. They have been most common in May and March. The strongest was an F4 on November 27, 1988, which passed about 8 miles north-northwest of the city and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on August 3, 2024, which touched down about 15 miles southwest of the city.
Hail: 375 reports of hail 1 inch or larger within 25 miles of Raleigh since 1955, 25 of them 2 inches or larger. The largest was 4.00-inch hail (softball size) on March 28, 2005.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 75 |
| EF2/F2 or stronger | 15 |
| Strongest tornado | F4 · Nov 1988 |
| Busiest tornado month | May |
| Largest hail | 4.00 in · Mar 2005 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database — tornadoes 1950–2025, hail 1955–2025 (the latest year is preliminary). Distances are to each tornado's recorded track; ratings before February 2007 use the original Fujita (F) scale.
Raleigh radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Raleigh?
KRAX near Raleigh/Durham, NC, about 11 miles away. A second radar, KMHX (Morehead City), is 121 miles away and also covers the area.
Can radar see a tornado over Raleigh?
Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it can see the rotating storm and, once a tornado is lofting debris, a debris signature. Over Raleigh the lowest scan from KRAX is roughly 600 ft up. Excellent — the lowest scan is close to the ground, where tornadoes form. TALON combines that with NOAA's ProbSevere model to flag storms most likely to produce tornadoes.
How often do tornadoes hit Raleigh?
NOAA records show 75 tornadoes within 25 miles of Raleigh since 1950 — about 1.0 a year on average, most often in May and March. Most were weak, but 15 were EF2/F2 or stronger.
Should I rely on radar for my safety?
No app replaces official warnings. When the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning for Raleigh, take shelter right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby cities
- Charlotte, NC radar 130 mi