Niagara Falls, NY Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Niagara Falls, Niagara County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Niagara Falls?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 104 days in the Niagara forecast zone and Niagara County — the most common reported hazard around Niagara Falls, mostly in July and June. Next come high winds (79 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (77 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 104 | May 2026 | Sep 6, 1998 · $2.3 million damage |
| High winds | 79 | Mar 2026 | Apr 28, 2011 · $800,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 77 | Jan 2026 | Feb 14, 2015 · 1 death · $20,000 damage |
| Flooding | 22 | Jan 2024 | Nov 1, 2019 · $5.5 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 19 | Jun 2024 | Jan 8, 1998 · $1.0 million damage |
| Coastal flooding | 7 | Nov 2017 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 7 | Jul 2023 | Aug 13, 2001 · $200,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Apr 2018 | Jan 31, 2002 · $1.5 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 Niagara forecast zone and Niagara County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Niagara Falls get?
A normal year brings about 72 inches of snow to Niagara Falls, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Niagara Falls weather station 2.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (22.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 4.1 | 15.7 | 22.3 | 16.3 | 11.6 | 2.2 | 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 Niagara Falls?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBUF (Buffalo, NY), about 17 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 Niagara Falls | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBUF Buffalo, NY | 17 mi southeast | 900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KCCX State College, PA | 159 mi south-southeast | 19,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KBGM Binghamton, NY | 166 mi east-southeast | 21,400 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 Niagara Falls
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 17 tornadoes within 25 miles of Niagara Falls, 3 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and July. The strongest was an F2 on July 30, 1987, which touched down about 17 miles southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on September 9, 2024, which touched down about 4 miles south of town.
Hail: 71 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 6 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on September 27, 1998.
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 Niagara Falls'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.
Niagara Falls radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Niagara Falls, NY?
KBUF (Buffalo, NY), about 17 miles southeast. KCCX (State College, PA) is 159 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Niagara Falls?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Niagara Falls the lowest scan from KBUF is about 900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Niagara Falls 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 Niagara Falls, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Lewiston, NY radar 6 mi
- North Tonawanda, NY radar 8 mi
- Tonawanda, NY radar 9 mi
- Youngstown, NY radar 11 mi
- Kenmore, NY radar 11 mi
- Buffalo, NY radar 16 mi
- Williamsville, NY radar 17 mi
- Lockport, NY radar 17 mi
- Sloan, NY radar 18 mi
- Wilson, NY radar 18 mi