Central Islip, NY Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Central Islip, Suffolk County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Central Islip?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 126 days in the Southwest Suffolk forecast zone and Suffolk County — the most common reported hazard around Central Islip, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (86 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (53 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 126 | Jun 2026 | Sep 7, 1998 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 86 | Jul 2025 | Aug 13, 2014 · $35 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 53 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 49 | Feb 2026 | Oct 29, 2012 · 1 death · $1.0 million damage |
| Coastal flooding | 41 | Jan 2024 | Apr 16, 2007 · $26 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 28 | Jun 2026 | Aug 18, 2018 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 16 | Mar 2010 | — |
| Blizzards | 11 | Feb 2026 | Feb 8, 2013 · 2 deaths · $6.0 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 Southwest Suffolk forecast zone and Suffolk County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Central Islip get?
A normal year brings about 32 inches of snow to Central Islip, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Islip Li Macarthur Ap weather station 4.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (10.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.5 | 4.5 | 10.3 | 9.4 | 6.5 | 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 Central Islip?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOKX (Upton, NY), about 18 miles east-northeast. 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 Central Islip | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOKX Upton, NY | 18 mi east-northeast | 1,000 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KDIX Philadelphia, NJ | 86 mi southwest | 7,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KENX Albany, NY | 132 mi north-northwest | 14,900 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 Central Islip
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 25 tornadoes within 25 miles of Central Islip, 3 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and June. The strongest was an F2 on July 10, 1989, which touched down about 22 miles east of town. The most recent was an EF0 on November 13, 2021, which passed about 17 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 71 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 July 10, 1989.
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 Central Islip'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.
Central Islip radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Central Islip, NY?
KOKX (Upton, NY), about 18 miles east-northeast. KDIX (Philadelphia, NJ) is 86 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Central Islip?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Central Islip the lowest scan from KOKX is about 1,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Central Islip 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 Central Islip, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.