Durham, NH Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Durham, Strafford County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Durham?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 152 days in the Strafford forecast zone and Strafford County — the most common reported hazard around Durham, mostly in January and March. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (64 days) and lightning casualties & damage (25 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 152 | Feb 2026 | Jan 12, 1996 · $400,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 64 | Jun 2026 | Sep 24, 2006 · 1 death |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 25 | Jul 2008 | May 15, 2004 · $150,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 20 | Feb 2023 | — |
| High winds | 19 | Dec 2022 | Oct 29, 2012 · $53,000 damage |
| Flooding | 12 | Dec 2022 | May 13, 2006 · $1.1 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 8 | Jul 2021 | Oct 20, 1996 · $1.8 million damage |
| Blizzards | 5 | Feb 2026 | — |
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 Strafford forecast zone and Strafford County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Durham get?
A normal year brings about 39 inches of snow to Durham, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Durham weather station 1.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (10.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 1.3 | 8.9 | 10.8 | 9.1 | 6.8 | 1.8 | 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 Durham?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGYX (Portland, ME), about 62 miles north-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 Durham | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KGYX Portland, ME | 62 mi north-northeast | 4,700 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KBOX Boston, MA | 83 mi south | 7,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KCXX Burlington, VT | 146 mi northwest | 17,500 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 Durham
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 23 tornadoes within 25 miles of Durham, 11 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F3 on June 9, 1953, which touched down about 12 miles south of town. The most recent was an EF2 on July 24, 2008, which passed about 19 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 162 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 7 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 Durham'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.
Durham radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Durham, NH?
KGYX (Portland, ME), about 62 miles north-northeast. KBOX (Boston, MA) is 83 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Durham?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Durham the lowest scan from KGYX is about 4,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Durham 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 Durham, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Dover, NH radar 4 mi
- Somersworth, NH radar 8 mi
- Portsmouth, NH radar 9 mi
- Rochester, NH radar 11 mi
- Manchester, NH radar 28 mi
- Concord, NH radar 33 mi
- Nashua, NH radar 39 mi
- Laconia, NH radar 41 mi
- Franklin, NH radar 43 mi