Cayuga Heights, NY Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Cayuga Heights, Tompkins County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Cayuga Heights?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 113 days in the Tompkins forecast zone and Tompkins County — the most common reported hazard around Cayuga Heights, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (71 days) and flash flooding (22 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 113 | Jun 2026 | Aug 29, 2003 · $400,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 71 | Jan 2026 | Mar 6, 1996 · 2 deaths |
| Flash flooding | 22 | Mar 2026 | Jan 19, 1996 · $19 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 14 | Jan 2022 | Jan 10, 2004 · $10,000 damage |
| High winds | 8 | Feb 2011 | Nov 13, 2003 · $120,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 7 | Mar 2008 | Jan 1, 2003 · $100,000 damage |
| Flooding | 6 | Apr 2020 | Jan 29, 2005 · $100,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 6 | Jun 2020 | Jun 29, 2005 · $100,000 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 Tompkins forecast zone and Tompkins County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Cayuga Heights get?
A normal year brings about 63 inches of snow to Cayuga Heights, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Ithaca Cornell Univ weather station 2.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (16.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 4.6 | 12.2 | 16.6 | 14.5 | 12.0 | 2.8 | 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 Cayuga Heights?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBGM (Binghamton, NY), about 32 miles 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 Cayuga Heights | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBGM Binghamton, NY | 32 mi southeast | 2,000 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KTYX Montague, NY | 98 mi north-northeast | 9,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KBUF Buffalo, NY | 119 mi west-northwest | 12,600 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 Cayuga Heights
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 21 tornadoes within 25 miles of Cayuga Heights, 3 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and June. The strongest was an F3 on August 30, 1955, which touched down about 24 miles west-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on July 15, 2024, which passed about 13 miles east of town.
Hail: 142 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 5 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.00-inch hail on May 3, 2012.
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 Cayuga Heights'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.
Cayuga Heights radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Cayuga Heights, NY?
KBGM (Binghamton, NY), about 32 miles southeast. KTYX (Montague, NY) is 98 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Cayuga Heights?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Cayuga Heights the lowest scan from KBGM is about 2,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Cayuga Heights 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 Cayuga Heights, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Lansing, NY radar 2 mi
- Ithaca, NY radar 2 mi
- Dryden, NY radar 10 mi
- Trumansburg, NY radar 10 mi
- Groton, NY radar 10 mi
- Moravia, NY radar 17 mi
- Cortland, NY radar 18 mi
- Homer, NY radar 19 mi
- Montour Falls, NY radar 20 mi
- Watkins Glen, NY radar 20 mi