Portsmouth, NH Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Portsmouth, Rockingham County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Portsmouth?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 111 days in the Coastal Rockingham forecast zone and Rockingham County — the most common reported hazard around Portsmouth, mostly in January and February. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (101 days) and coastal flooding (59 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 111 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 101 | Jun 2026 | Jun 17, 2000 · 1 death |
| Coastal flooding | 59 | Mar 2024 | Jan 13, 2024 · $30 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 39 | Aug 2010 | May 10, 2007 · $500,000 damage |
| High winds | 24 | Dec 2023 | Oct 29, 2012 · $200,000 damage |
| Flooding | 20 | Dec 2023 | Feb 25, 2010 · $4.2 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 19 | Feb 2023 | — |
| Flash flooding | 14 | Jan 2024 | Oct 20, 1996 · $4.8 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 Coastal Rockingham forecast zone and Rockingham County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Portsmouth get?
A normal year brings about 56 inches of snow to Portsmouth, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Eliot weather station 2.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (16.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.9 | 11.0 | 15.9 | 16.2 | 10.5 | 1.2 | 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 Portsmouth?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGYX (Portland, ME), about 63 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 Portsmouth | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KGYX Portland, ME | 63 mi north-northeast | 4,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KBOX Boston, MA | 78 mi south-southwest | 6,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KCXX Burlington, VT | 156 mi northwest | 19,300 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 Portsmouth
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 19 tornadoes within 25 miles of Portsmouth, 9 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and June. The strongest was an F3 on June 9, 1953, which touched down about 11 miles west-southwest of town. The most recent was an F1 on September 29, 2006, which touched down about 17 miles north of town.
Hail: 142 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 Portsmouth'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.
Portsmouth radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Portsmouth, NH?
KGYX (Portland, ME), about 63 miles north-northeast. KBOX (Boston, MA) is 78 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Portsmouth?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Portsmouth the lowest scan from KGYX is about 4,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Dover, NH radar 10 mi
- Somersworth, NH radar 14 mi
- Rochester, NH radar 19 mi
- Manchester, NH radar 34 mi
- Concord, NH radar 41 mi
- Nashua, NH radar 42 mi
- Laconia, NH radar 50 mi
- Franklin, NH radar 52 mi