Rockingham, NC Live Doppler Radar

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

What weather hits Rockingham?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 100 days in the Richmond forecast zone and Richmond County — the most common reported hazard around Rockingham, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (26 days) and flash flooding (18 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds100Jun 2026Apr 13, 2020 · $100,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms26Jan 2026—
Flash flooding18Aug 2024Oct 8, 2016 · $45,000 damage
Hurricanes & tropical storms8Sep 2022Sep 30, 2022 · $1.0 million damage
Ice storms & sleet4Dec 1998—
Flooding4Sep 2018Sep 17, 2018 · $52 million damage
Excessive heat4Jul 2025—
High winds3Feb 2010Feb 10, 2010 · $1,000 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 Richmond forecast zone and Richmond County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Rockingham?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRAX (Raleigh/Durham, NC), about 87 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over RockinghamView
KRAX
Raleigh/Durham, NC
87 mi northeast7,900 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KLTX
Wilmington, NC
100 mi southeast9,700 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KCAE
Columbia, SC
103 mi southwest10,100 ftLimited — 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 Rockingham

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 40 tornadoes within 25 miles of Rockingham, 10 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and September. The strongest was an F4 on March 28, 1984, which passed about 20 miles south of town and caused 7 deaths. The most recent was an EF2 on April 13, 2020, which touched down about 13 miles west-southwest of town.

Hail: 141 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 6 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on May 25, 1986.

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 Rockingham'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.

Rockingham radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Rockingham, NC?

KRAX (Raleigh/Durham, NC), about 87 miles northeast. KLTX (Wilmington, NC) is 100 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Rockingham?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Rockingham the lowest scan from KRAX is about 7,900 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.

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

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