Sunbury, NC Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for SunburyWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Sunbury?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 50 days in the Gates forecast zone and Gates County — the most common reported hazard around Sunbury, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (25 days) and flash flooding (13 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds50Jun 2026May 1, 2012 · 1 death · $2,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms25Feb 2026Feb 19, 2025 · $1,000 damage
Flash flooding13Jun 2025Oct 8, 2016 · 1 death
Hurricanes & tropical storms9Jul 2021Aug 27, 2011 · $5.5 million damage
Excessive heat5Jul 2025—
High winds4Mar 2018Mar 2, 2018 · $15,000 damage
Flooding4Nov 2020Oct 8, 2016 · $500,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage2Aug 2008Aug 10, 2008 · $5,000 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 Gates forecast zone and Gates County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Sunbury?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KAKQ (Wakefield, VA), about 43 miles north-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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over SunburyView
KAKQ
Wakefield, VA		43 mi north-northwest2,900 ftExcellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KMHX
Morehead City, NC		116 mi south12,100 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KRAX
Raleigh/Durham, NC		118 mi west-southwest12,400 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 Sunbury

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 84 tornadoes within 25 miles of Sunbury, 19 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and March. The strongest was an EF3 on April 16, 2011, which passed about 13 miles southwest of town and caused 12 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on March 17, 2025, which passed about 23 miles southeast of town.

Hail: 125 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 7 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on May 9, 2003.

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 Sunbury'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.

Sunbury radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Sunbury, NC?

KAKQ (Wakefield, VA), about 43 miles north-northwest. KMHX (Morehead City, NC) is 116 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Sunbury?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Sunbury the lowest scan from KAKQ is about 2,900 ft up.

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

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