Alton, NH Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Alton, Belknap County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Alton?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 161 days in the Belknap forecast zone and Belknap County — the most common reported hazard around Alton, mostly in January and February. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (70 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (22 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 161 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 70 | Jun 2026 | Jul 6, 1999 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 22 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 20 | May 2020 | Sep 27, 2007 · $200,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 17 | Jul 2023 | Aug 7, 2008 · 1 death · $700,000 damage |
| High winds | 16 | Oct 2017 | Apr 16, 2007 · $685,000 damage |
| Flooding | 12 | Dec 2023 | Oct 8, 2005 · $1.0 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 2 | Dec 2008 | Jan 7, 1998 · $3.8 million 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 Belknap forecast zone and Belknap County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Alton get?
A normal year brings about 62 inches of snow to Alton, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Lakeport 2 weather station 13.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (18.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 2.1 | 12.8 | 18.8 | 16.9 | 9.4 | 1.6 | 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 Alton?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGYX (Portland, ME), about 57 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 Alton | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KGYX Portland, ME | 57 mi east-northeast | 4,200 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KBOX Boston, MA | 104 mi south | 10,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KCXX Burlington, VT | 121 mi northwest | 12,900 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 Alton
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 29 tornadoes within 25 miles of Alton, 7 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and August. The strongest was an EF2 on July 24, 2008, which passed about 2 miles east-southeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on August 22, 2020, which touched down about 7 miles north of town.
Hail: 126 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 6 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on July 19, 2015.
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 Alton'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.
Alton radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Alton, NH?
KGYX (Portland, ME), about 57 miles east-northeast. KBOX (Boston, MA) is 104 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Alton?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Alton the lowest scan from KGYX is about 4,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Alton 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 Alton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Laconia, NH radar 15 mi
- Rochester, NH radar 16 mi
- Somersworth, NH radar 22 mi
- Franklin, NH radar 22 mi
- Concord, NH radar 23 mi
- Dover, NH radar 25 mi
- Manchester, NH radar 34 mi
- Portsmouth, NH radar 35 mi
- Nashua, NH radar 51 mi
- Lebanon, NH radar 53 mi