Raritan, NJ Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Raritan, Somerset County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Raritan?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 150 days in the Somerset forecast zone and Somerset County — the most common reported hazard around Raritan, mostly in July and June. Next come flooding (128 days) and excessive heat (95 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 150 | Jun 2026 | Sep 7, 1998 · $2.7 million damage |
| Flooding | 128 | Jul 2025 | Aug 28, 2011 · $200 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 95 | Jul 2025 | Jul 4, 1999 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 82 | Feb 2026 | Mar 5, 2015 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 66 | Jul 2025 | Sep 1, 2021 · 3 deaths · $26 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 30 | Jul 2021 | Jul 26, 2009 · $1.5 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 29 | Dec 2022 | — |
| High winds | 29 | Feb 2019 | Oct 29, 2012 · $20 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 Somerset forecast zone and Somerset County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Raritan get?
A normal year brings about 21 inches of snow to Raritan, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Bound Brook 2W weather station 4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (6.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.1 | 3.5 | 6.8 | 6.7 | 3.6 | 0.2 | 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 Raritan?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDIX (Philadelphia, NJ), about 45 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 Raritan | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDIX Philadelphia, NJ | 45 mi south-southeast | 3,100 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KOKX Upton, NY | 96 mi east-northeast | 9,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDOX Dover AFB, DE | 128 mi south-southwest | 14,100 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 Raritan
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 71 tornadoes within 25 miles of Raritan, 14 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F3 on May 28, 1973, which touched down about 20 miles north-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on June 14, 2024, which touched down about 22 miles south of town.
Hail: 164 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 1 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on July 11, 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 Raritan'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.
Raritan radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Raritan, NJ?
KDIX (Philadelphia, NJ), about 45 miles south-southeast. KOKX (Upton, NY) is 96 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Raritan?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Raritan the lowest scan from KDIX is about 3,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Raritan 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 Raritan, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Somerville, NJ radar 2 mi
- Manville, NJ radar 4 mi
- Bound Brook, NJ radar 6 mi
- South Bound Brook, NJ radar 6 mi
- Middlesex, NJ radar 8 mi
- Dunellen, NJ radar 10 mi
- Peapack and Gladstone, NJ radar 10 mi
- Lebanon, NJ radar 11 mi
- Bernardsville, NJ radar 11 mi
- North Plainfield, NJ radar 11 mi