West Jefferson, NC Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for West Jefferson, Ashe County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits West Jefferson?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged high winds on 140 days in the Ashe forecast zone and Ashe County — the most common reported hazard around West Jefferson, mostly in February and January. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (91 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (55 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| High winds | 140 | Dec 2025 | Dec 25, 2002 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 91 | Jan 2026 | Jan 27, 1998 · $150,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 55 | Aug 2024 | Jul 8, 2016 · $150,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 53 | Aug 2025 | Sep 27, 2024 · 1 death · $116 million damage |
| Flooding | 19 | Aug 2023 | Feb 6, 2020 · $139,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 11 | Nov 2018 | Feb 1, 1996 · $50,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 7 | Jan 2026 | Feb 3, 1996 · $20,000 damage |
| Debris flows | 5 | Apr 2024 | Sep 18, 2018 · $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 Ashe forecast zone and Ashe County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does West Jefferson get?
A normal year brings about 14 inches of snow to West Jefferson, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Jefferson 2 E weather station 4.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (4.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.2 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 3.3 | 2.9 | 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 West Jefferson?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFCX (Blacksburg, VA), about 81 miles east-northeast. 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 West Jefferson | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFCX Blacksburg, VA | 81 mi east-northeast | 7,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMRX Knoxville, TN | 108 mi west | 10,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KGSP Greer, SC | 111 mi south-southwest | 11,400 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 West Jefferson
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 13 tornadoes within 25 miles of West Jefferson, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an EF2 on April 27, 2011, which passed about 20 miles west-northwest of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on September 25, 2024, which touched down about 19 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 153 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 6 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on June 2, 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 West Jefferson'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.
West Jefferson radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to West Jefferson, NC?
KFCX (Blacksburg, VA), about 81 miles east-northeast. KMRX (Knoxville, TN) is 108 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in West Jefferson?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over West Jefferson the lowest scan from KFCX is about 7,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for West Jefferson 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 West Jefferson, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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