Cortland, NY Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Cortland, Cortland County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Cortland?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 115 days in the Cortland forecast zone and Cortland County — the most common reported hazard around Cortland, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (91 days) and flash flooding (36 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 115 | Jun 2026 | Jun 22, 2024 · $59,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 91 | Jan 2026 | Jan 3, 2003 · $500,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 36 | Mar 2026 | Jan 19, 1996 · $5.7 million damage |
| Flooding | 27 | Apr 2026 | Apr 1, 2005 · $12 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 17 | Jan 2022 | Jan 15, 2004 · $10,000 damage |
| High winds | 12 | Feb 2019 | Feb 18, 2011 · $50,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Jan 2007 | Jan 1, 2003 · $200,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 4 | Mar 2012 | — |
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 Cortland forecast zone and Cortland County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Cortland get?
A normal year brings about 64 inches of snow to Cortland, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Freeville 1 Ne weather station 9.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (16.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 5.6 | 12.7 | 16.1 | 14.5 | 13.0 | 2.4 | 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 Cortland?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBGM (Binghamton, NY), about 29 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 Cortland | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBGM Binghamton, NY | 29 mi south-southeast | 1,800 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KTYX Montague, NY | 84 mi north-northeast | 7,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KENX Albany, NY | 108 mi east | 10,700 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 Cortland
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 23 tornadoes within 25 miles of Cortland, 3 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and June. The strongest was an F2 on October 14, 1989, which touched down about 22 miles east-southeast of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on July 15, 2024, which passed about 6 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 128 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 9 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on June 9, 2011.
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 Cortland'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.
Cortland radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Cortland, NY?
KBGM (Binghamton, NY), about 29 miles south-southeast. KTYX (Montague, NY) is 84 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Cortland?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Cortland the lowest scan from KBGM is about 1,800 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Cortland 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 Cortland, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Groton, NY radar 9 mi
- Dryden, NY radar 10 mi
- Moravia, NY radar 15 mi
- Lansing, NY radar 17 mi
- Cayuga Heights, NY radar 18 mi
- Ithaca, NY radar 20 mi
- Trumansburg, NY radar 25 mi
- Skaneateles, NY radar 27 mi
- Marcellus, NY radar 28 mi