Franklin, NH Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Franklin, Merrimack County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Franklin?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 152 days in the Merrimack forecast zone and Merrimack County — the most common reported hazard around Franklin, mostly in January and February. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (94 days) and flooding (53 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 152 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 94 | Jun 2026 | Jul 21, 2022 · $10,000 damage |
| Flooding | 53 | May 2025 | Feb 25, 2010 · $1.7 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 22 | Jun 2025 | Oct 20, 1996 · $2.2 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 20 | Feb 2023 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 19 | Jun 2025 | Jul 9, 1997 · $3.0 million damage |
| High winds | 18 | Oct 2017 | Oct 29, 2012 · $106,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Dec 2008 | Jan 7, 1998 · $3.7 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 Merrimack forecast zone and Merrimack County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Franklin get?
A normal year brings about 62 inches of snow to Franklin, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Lakeport 2 weather station 12.2 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 Franklin?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGYX (Portland, ME), about 77 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 Franklin | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KGYX Portland, ME | 77 mi east-northeast | 6,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KCXX Burlington, VT | 104 mi northwest | 10,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KBOX Boston, MA | 107 mi south-southeast | 10,700 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 Franklin
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 24 tornadoes within 25 miles of Franklin, 5 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and August. The strongest was an EF2 on July 24, 2008, which passed about 24 miles east-southeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on August 22, 2020, which touched down about 21 miles east-northeast of town.
Hail: 109 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 4 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on June 22, 2008.
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 Franklin'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.
Franklin radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Franklin, NH?
KGYX (Portland, ME), about 77 miles east-northeast. KCXX (Burlington, VT) is 104 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Franklin?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Franklin the lowest scan from KGYX is about 6,500 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Franklin 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 Franklin, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Laconia, NH radar 13 mi
- Concord, NH radar 16 mi
- Lebanon, NH radar 32 mi
- Claremont, NH radar 34 mi
- Manchester, NH radar 34 mi
- Rochester, NH radar 36 mi
- Somersworth, NH radar 42 mi
- Dover, NH radar 44 mi
- Keene, NH radar 47 mi
- Nashua, NH radar 50 mi