Lake Placid, NY Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lake Placid, Essex County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lake Placid?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 132 days in the Western Essex forecast zone and Essex County — the most common reported hazard around Lake Placid, mostly in February and March. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (101 days) and flash flooding (45 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 132 | Feb 2026 | Apr 19, 2022 · $100,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 101 | Jul 2025 | Jun 10, 2008 · 1 death · $25,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 45 | Jul 2025 | Aug 28, 2011 · $36 million damage |
| Flooding | 39 | Dec 2023 | Aug 28, 2011 · $6.0 million damage |
| High winds | 26 | Mar 2026 | Sep 17, 1999 · $200,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 25 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 3 | Jun 2025 | Mar 17, 2012 · $250,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Jul 2012 | Jul 17, 2012 · $50,000 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 Western Essex forecast zone and Essex County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Lake Placid get?
A normal year brings about 104 inches of snow to Lake Placid, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Lake Placid 2 S weather station 1.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (22.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.6 | 9.6 | 22.7 | 21.0 | 21.0 | 18.9 | 7.8 | 0.5 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Lake Placid?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KCXX (Burlington, VT), about 43 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 Lake Placid | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KCXX Burlington, VT | 43 mi east-northeast | 2,900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KTYX Montague, NY | 92 mi west-southwest | 8,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KENX Albany, NY | 117 mi south | 12,300 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 Lake Placid
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 3 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lake Placid, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and October. The strongest was an F2 on May 6, 1952, which passed about 3 miles north-northwest of town. The most recent was an F1 on July 26, 1986, which touched down about 24 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 19 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on October 10, 2020.
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 Lake Placid'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.
Lake Placid radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lake Placid, NY?
KCXX (Burlington, VT), about 43 miles east-northeast. KTYX (Montague, NY) is 92 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lake Placid?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lake Placid the lowest scan from KCXX is about 2,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Lake Placid 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 Lake Placid, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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