Ruffin, NC Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Ruffin, Rockingham County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Ruffin?
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 Ruffin, 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 Ruffin get?
A normal year brings about 7.3 inches of snow to Ruffin, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Reidsville 2 Nw weather station 9.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (2.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 2.9 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 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 Ruffin?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFCX (Blacksburg, VA), about 58 miles 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 Ruffin | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFCX Blacksburg, VA | 58 mi northwest | 4,300 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KRAX Raleigh/Durham, NC | 79 mi southeast | 6,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 145 mi east-northeast | 17,200 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 Ruffin
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 43 tornadoes within 25 miles of Ruffin, 6 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and March. The strongest was an F3 on March 20, 1998, which passed about 15 miles west-northwest of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF2 on September 27, 2024, which passed about 20 miles north of town.
Hail: 252 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 12 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on June 3, 1998.
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 Ruffin'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.
Ruffin radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Ruffin, NC?
KFCX (Blacksburg, VA), about 58 miles northwest. KRAX (Raleigh/Durham, NC) is 79 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Ruffin?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Ruffin the lowest scan from KFCX is about 4,300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Ruffin 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 Ruffin, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Reidsville, NC radar 10 mi
- Yanceyville, NC radar 12 mi
- Eden, NC radar 12 mi
- Wentworth, NC radar 13 mi
- Stoneville, NC radar 21 mi
- Gibsonville, NC radar 23 mi
- Elon, NC radar 23 mi
- Green Level, NC radar 24 mi
- Mayodan, NC radar 24 mi
- Madison, NC radar 25 mi