Vista Center, NJ Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Vista Center, Ocean County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Vista Center?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 162 days in the Ocean forecast zone and Ocean County — the most common reported hazard around Vista Center, mostly in July and June. Next come excessive heat (101 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (64 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 162 | May 2026 | Jun 22, 2011 · 1 death |
| Excessive heat | 101 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 64 | Jan 2026 | Jan 22, 2005 · $2.2 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 63 | Jul 2025 | Jul 16, 2025 · 1 death |
| High winds | 57 | Feb 2025 | Oct 29, 2012 · 3 deaths · $500 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 54 | Jul 2025 | Sep 16, 1999 · $5.5 million damage |
| Coastal flooding | 39 | Oct 2025 | Oct 29, 2012 · 2 deaths · $2.5 billion damage |
| Flooding | 31 | Jun 2018 | Aug 28, 2011 · $10 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 Ocean forecast zone and Ocean County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Vista Center get?
A normal year brings about 24 inches of snow to Vista Center, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Hightstown 2 W weather station 14.8 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 Vista Center?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDIX (Philadelphia, NJ), about 15 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 Vista Center | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDIX Philadelphia, NJ | 15 mi south-southwest | 800 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KOKX Upton, NY | 91 mi east-northeast | 8,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDOX Dover AFB, DE | 110 mi south-southwest | 11,100 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 Vista Center
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 57 tornadoes within 25 miles of Vista Center, 12 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and August. The strongest was an F3 on June 24, 1960, which passed about 12 miles west-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on June 14, 2024, which touched down about 22 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 123 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 1 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.00-inch hail on July 22, 2003.
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 Vista Center'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.
Vista Center radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Vista Center, NJ?
KDIX (Philadelphia, NJ), about 15 miles south-southwest. KOKX (Upton, NY) is 91 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Vista Center?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Vista Center the lowest scan from KDIX is about 800 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Vista Center 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 Vista Center, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Freehold, NJ radar 7 mi
- Farmingdale, NJ radar 8 mi
- Englishtown, NJ radar 10 mi
- Lakehurst, NJ radar 10 mi
- Hightstown, NJ radar 13 mi
- Tinton Falls, NJ radar 14 mi
- Brielle, NJ radar 14 mi
- Allentown, NJ radar 14 mi
- Point Pleasant, NJ radar 14 mi
- Jamesburg, NJ radar 15 mi