Princeton, NJ Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Princeton, Mercer County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Princeton?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 144 days in the Mercer forecast zone and Mercer County — the most common reported hazard around Princeton, mostly in July and June. Next come excessive heat (92 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (65 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 144 | Jun 2026 | Aug 16, 2010 · $1.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 92 | Jul 2025 | Jul 4, 1999 · 3 deaths |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 65 | Feb 2026 | Jan 22, 2005 · $1.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 59 | Jun 2026 | Sep 1, 2021 · 2 deaths · $51 million damage |
| Flooding | 51 | Jan 2018 | Aug 28, 2011 · 2 deaths · $75 million damage |
| High winds | 34 | Feb 2025 | Oct 29, 2012 · 3 deaths · $100 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 32 | Mar 2020 | Jul 2, 2014 · $1.0 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 28 | Dec 2022 | — |
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 Mercer forecast zone and Mercer County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Princeton get?
A normal year brings about 24 inches of snow to Princeton, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Hightstown 2 W weather station 8.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (8.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.3 | 4.4 | 5.8 | 8.0 | 4.6 | 0.6 | 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 Princeton?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDIX (Philadelphia, NJ), about 31 miles south-southeast. 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 Princeton | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDIX Philadelphia, NJ | 31 mi south-southeast | 1,900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KOKX Upton, NY | 101 mi east-northeast | 9,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDOX Dover AFB, DE | 114 mi south-southwest | 11,700 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 Princeton
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 70 tornadoes within 25 miles of Princeton, 15 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and September. The strongest was an F3 on October 18, 1990, which touched down about 10 miles north-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on June 14, 2024, which touched down about 7 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 173 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 3 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.50-inch hail on May 29, 1995.
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 Princeton'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.
Princeton radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Princeton, NJ?
KDIX (Philadelphia, NJ), about 31 miles south-southeast. KOKX (Upton, NY) is 101 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Princeton?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Princeton the lowest scan from KDIX is about 1,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Princeton 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 Princeton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Hopewell, NJ radar 6 mi
- Pennington, NJ radar 7 mi
- Hightstown, NJ radar 10 mi
- Trenton, NJ radar 11 mi
- Jamesburg, NJ radar 12 mi
- Helmetta, NJ radar 13 mi
- Allentown, NJ radar 13 mi
- Manville, NJ radar 13 mi
- Milltown, NJ radar 14 mi
- Flemington, NJ radar 15 mi