Southern Shores, NC Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Southern Shores, Dare County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Southern Shores?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 69 days in the Northern Outer Banks forecast zone and Dare County — the most common reported hazard around Southern Shores, mostly in June and August. Next come flash flooding (14 days) and lightning casualties & damage (8 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 69 | Jun 2026 | Apr 11, 1999 · $230,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 14 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 8 | Aug 2023 | Aug 23, 2019 · 1 death |
| High winds | 7 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 6 | Aug 2025 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 4 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Coastal flooding | 3 | Jan 2024 | — |
| Flooding | 3 | Jul 2012 | — |
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 Northern Outer Banks forecast zone and Dare County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Southern Shores get?
A normal year brings about 1.1 inches of snow to Southern Shores, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Manteo Ap weather station 13.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (0.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 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 Southern Shores?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KAKQ (Wakefield, VA), about 93 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 Southern Shores | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 93 mi northwest | 8,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMHX Morehead City, NC | 113 mi southwest | 11,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KRAX Raleigh/Durham, NC | 157 mi west | 19,700 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 Southern Shores
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 32 tornadoes within 25 miles of Southern Shores, 4 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and April. The strongest was an F3 on September 17, 1952, which touched down about 14 miles south-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 15, 2025, which touched down about 19 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 24 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on April 22, 2009.
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 Southern Shores'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.
Southern Shores radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Southern Shores, NC?
KAKQ (Wakefield, VA), about 93 miles northwest. KMHX (Morehead City, NC) is 113 miles away and also covers the area.
Can radar see a tornado near Southern Shores?
Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Southern Shores the lowest scan from KAKQ is about 8,600 ft up — fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation.
Is TALON's radar for Southern Shores 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 Southern Shores, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Kitty Hawk, NC radar 3 mi
- Kill Devil Hills, NC radar 8 mi
- Nags Head, NC radar 13 mi
- Manteo, NC radar 16 mi
- Elizabeth City, NC radar 31 mi
- Hertford, NC radar 41 mi
- Edenton, NC radar 49 mi
- Plymouth, NC radar 60 mi