Wendell, NC Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Wendell, Wake County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Wendell?
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 Wendell, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (142 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (36 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 300 | Jun 2026 | May 4, 2019 · 1 death · $10,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 142 | Aug 2025 | Nov 12, 2020 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 36 | Jan 2026 | Feb 25, 2015 · $1.0 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 35 | Jul 2023 | Jul 28, 2018 · 1 death |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 13 | Sep 2022 | Sep 5, 1996 · 3 deaths |
| Flooding | 9 | Dec 2023 | Sep 17, 2018 · $25 million damage |
| High winds | 7 | Feb 2010 | Apr 1, 1997 · 1 death |
| Excessive heat | 7 | Jul 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.
How much snow does Wendell get?
A normal year brings about 3.3 inches of snow to Wendell, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Zebulon 3 Sw weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually January (1.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 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 Wendell?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRAX (Raleigh/Durham, NC), about 12 miles southwest. 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 Wendell | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRAX Raleigh/Durham, NC | 12 mi southwest | 600 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KMHX Morehead City, NC | 109 mi southeast | 11,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 111 mi northeast | 11,300 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 Wendell
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 65 tornadoes within 25 miles of Wendell, 16 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and March. The strongest was an F4 on November 27, 1988, which passed about 15 miles north-northwest of town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was an EF3 on August 8, 2024, which passed about 17 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 300 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 19 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 Wendell'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.
Wendell radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Wendell, NC?
KRAX (Raleigh/Durham, NC), about 12 miles southwest. KMHX (Morehead City, NC) is 109 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Wendell?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Wendell the lowest scan from KRAX is about 600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Wendell 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 Wendell, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Zebulon, NC radar 3 mi
- Archer Lodge, NC radar 8 mi
- Knightdale, NC radar 8 mi
- Rolesville, NC radar 11 mi
- Clayton, NC radar 11 mi
- Wilson's Mills, NC radar 14 mi
- Wake Forest, NC radar 15 mi
- Garner, NC radar 16 mi
- Raleigh, NC radar 16 mi
- Spring Hope, NC radar 17 mi