Wake Forest, NC Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Wake ForestWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Wake Forest?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 300 days in the Wake forecast zone and Wake County — the most common reported hazard around Wake Forest, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (142 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (36 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds300Jun 2026May 4, 2019 · 1 death · $10,000 damage
Flash flooding142Aug 2025Nov 12, 2020 · 1 death
Heavy snow & winter storms36Jan 2026Feb 25, 2015 · $1.0 million damage
Lightning casualties & damage35Jul 2023Jul 28, 2018 · 1 death
Hurricanes & tropical storms13Sep 2022Sep 5, 1996 · 3 deaths
Flooding9Dec 2023Sep 17, 2018 · $25 million damage
High winds7Feb 2010Apr 1, 1997 · 1 death
Excessive heat7Jul 2025—

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 Wake forecast zone and Wake County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Wake Forest?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRAX (Raleigh/Durham, NC), about 21 miles south. 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 Wake ForestView
KRAX
Raleigh/Durham, NC		21 mi south1,200 ftExcellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KAKQ
Wakefield, VA		109 mi northeast11,000 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KFCX
Blacksburg, VA		122 mi northwest13,100 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 Wake Forest

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 64 tornadoes within 25 miles of Wake Forest, 14 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and March. The strongest was an F4 on November 27, 1988, which crossed near town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on September 27, 2024, which touched down about 25 miles north of town.

Hail: 366 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 26 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on March 28, 2005.

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 Wake Forest'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.

Wake Forest radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Wake Forest, NC?

KRAX (Raleigh/Durham, NC), about 21 miles south. KAKQ (Wakefield, VA) is 109 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Wake Forest?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Wake Forest the lowest scan from KRAX is about 1,200 ft up.

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

Radar for nearby towns

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