Rifton, NY Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Rifton, Ulster County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for RiftonWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Rifton?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 163 days in the Eastern Ulster forecast zone and Ulster County — the most common reported hazard around Rifton, mostly in July and August. Next come excessive heat (81 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (64 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds163Jun 2026May 29, 1998 · 1 death · $500 damage
Excessive heat81Jun 2026—
Heavy snow & winter storms64Jan 2026Jan 7, 1996 · $80,000 damage
Flooding52Aug 2024Jan 19, 1996 · $5.0 million damage
Flash flooding49Jul 2023Dec 17, 2000 · 1 death
High winds34Mar 2021Sep 16, 1999 · $225,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill27Feb 2026—
Lightning casualties & damage20Sep 2023Jul 3, 2009 · 1 death

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 Eastern Ulster forecast zone and Ulster County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

How much snow does Rifton get?

A normal year brings about 59 inches of snow to Rifton, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Mohonk Lake weather station 7.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (14.6 in).

OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMay
0.12.812.914.614.612.41.80.0

Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.

Which radars cover Rifton?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KENX (Albany, NY), about 52 miles north. 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over RiftonView
KENX
Albany, NY		52 mi north3,800 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KOKX
Upton, NY		90 mi southeast8,200 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KBGM
Binghamton, NY		103 mi west-northwest10,100 ftLimited — 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 Rifton

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 32 tornadoes within 25 miles of Rifton, 3 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and May. The strongest was an F2 on July 29, 1971, which passed about 24 miles south of town. The most recent was an EF0 on August 9, 2024, which touched down about 7 miles south-southwest of town.

Hail: 169 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 7 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on May 15, 2018.

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 Rifton'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.

Rifton radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Rifton, NY?

KENX (Albany, NY), about 52 miles north. KOKX (Upton, NY) is 90 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Rifton?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Rifton the lowest scan from KENX is about 3,800 ft up.

Is TALON's radar for Rifton 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 Rifton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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