Chester, NY Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Chester, Orange County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Chester?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 160 days in the Orange forecast zone and Orange County — the most common reported hazard around Chester, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (90 days) and flash flooding (63 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 160 | Jun 2026 | May 15, 2018 · 1 death · $5,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 90 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 63 | Jul 2025 | Jul 9, 2023 · 1 death |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 28 | Sep 2023 | Jul 28, 2006 · 1 death |
| High winds | 26 | Feb 2025 | Nov 13, 2003 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 18 | Dec 2011 | Aug 28, 2011 · 1 death |
| Excessive heat | 13 | Jul 2019 | Jul 22, 2011 · 1 death |
| Ice storms & sleet | 9 | Feb 2025 | — |
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 Orange forecast zone and Orange County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Chester get?
A normal year brings about 44 inches of snow to Chester, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Walden 1 Ese weather station 14.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (11.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 1.1 | 9.2 | 11.3 | 11.2 | 10.7 | 0.7 | 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 Chester?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOKX (Upton, NY), about 81 miles east-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 Chester | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOKX Upton, NY | 81 mi east-southeast | 7,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KENX Albany, NY | 86 mi north | 7,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDIX Philadelphia, NJ | 98 mi south | 9,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
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 Chester
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 28 tornadoes within 25 miles of Chester, 6 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and September. The strongest was an F3 on July 14, 1988, which passed about 10 miles west of town. The most recent was an EF1 on August 27, 2020, which touched down about 10 miles north of town.
Hail: 136 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 4 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.50-inch hail on July 3, 2014.
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 Chester'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.
Chester radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Chester, NY?
KOKX (Upton, NY), about 81 miles east-southeast. KENX (Albany, NY) is 86 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Chester?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Chester the lowest scan from KOKX is about 7,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Chester 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 Chester, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.