Brookdale, NJ Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Brookdale, Essex County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Brookdale?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 71 days in the Western Essex forecast zone and Essex County — the most common reported hazard around Brookdale, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (68 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (29 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 71 | Jun 2026 | Jun 26, 2024 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 68 | Aug 2025 | Sep 1, 2021 · 2 deaths |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 29 | Feb 2026 | Jan 25, 2026 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 23 | Nov 2016 | Apr 15, 2007 · 1 death · $4.0 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 20 | Jun 2025 | Jul 26, 2009 · 1 death · $1,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 7 | Jul 2019 | — |
| High winds | 7 | Mar 2024 | Oct 29, 2012 · $900,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 2 | Jan 2016 | — |
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 Western Essex forecast zone and Essex County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Brookdale get?
A normal year brings about 28 inches of snow to Brookdale, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Harrison weather station 6.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (8.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 0.3 | 5.9 | 8.0 | 8.4 | 4.7 | 0.7 | 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 Brookdale?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDIX (Philadelphia, NJ), about 63 miles south-southwest. 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 Brookdale | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDIX Philadelphia, NJ | 63 mi south-southwest | 4,800 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KOKX Upton, NY | 69 mi east | 5,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KENX Albany, NY | 121 mi north | 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 Brookdale
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 56 tornadoes within 25 miles of Brookdale, 6 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and September. The strongest was an F3 on May 28, 1973, which touched down about 17 miles west of town. The most recent was an EF1 on June 26, 2023, which touched down about 22 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 213 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 8 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on August 1, 2011.
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 Brookdale'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.
Brookdale radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Brookdale, NJ?
KDIX (Philadelphia, NJ), about 63 miles south-southwest. KOKX (Upton, NY) is 69 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Brookdale?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Brookdale the lowest scan from KDIX is about 4,800 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Brookdale 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 Brookdale, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.