Rochester, NH Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Rochester, Strafford County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Rochester?
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 Rochester, 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 Rochester get?
A normal year brings about 39 inches of snow to Rochester, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Durham weather station 10.8 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 Rochester?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGYX (Portland, ME), about 55 miles 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 Rochester | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KGYX Portland, ME | 55 mi northeast | 4,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KBOX Boston, MA | 93 mi south | 8,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KCXX Burlington, VT | 137 mi northwest | 15,800 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 Rochester
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 24 tornadoes within 25 miles of Rochester, 10 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 23 miles south of town. The most recent was an EF0 on August 22, 2020, which touched down about 22 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 155 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 Rochester'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.
Rochester radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Rochester, NH?
KGYX (Portland, ME), about 55 miles northeast. KBOX (Boston, MA) is 93 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Rochester?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Rochester the lowest scan from KGYX is about 4,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Rochester 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 Rochester, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Somersworth, NH radar 5 mi
- Dover, NH radar 9 mi
- Portsmouth, NH radar 19 mi
- Concord, NH radar 30 mi
- Laconia, NH radar 32 mi
- Manchester, NH radar 32 mi
- Franklin, NH radar 36 mi
- Nashua, NH radar 46 mi