Saranac Lake, NY Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Saranac Lake, Franklin County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Saranac Lake?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 127 days in the Southern Franklin forecast zone and Franklin County — the most common reported hazard around Saranac Lake, mostly in February and March. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (81 days) and high winds (29 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 127 | Feb 2026 | Nov 18, 2014 · $100,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 81 | Jul 2025 | Jul 21, 2010 · $250,000 damage |
| High winds | 29 | Mar 2026 | Jan 9, 2008 · $100,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 25 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 21 | Jul 2023 | Jul 1, 1998 · $500,000 damage |
| Flooding | 15 | Aug 2024 | Apr 27, 2011 · $6.0 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 6 | Aug 2023 | Jun 21, 1997 · $20,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 3 | Jun 2025 | Mar 17, 2012 · $200,000 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 Southern Franklin forecast zone and Franklin County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Saranac Lake get?
A normal year brings about 104 inches of snow to Saranac Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Lake Placid 2 S weather station 7.4 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 Saranac Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KCXX (Burlington, VT), about 49 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 Saranac Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KCXX Burlington, VT | 49 mi east-northeast | 3,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KTYX Montague, NY | 86 mi west-southwest | 7,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KENX Albany, NY | 120 mi south | 12,800 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 Saranac Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 3 tornadoes within 25 miles of Saranac Lake, 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 6 miles east of town. The most recent was an F1 on July 26, 1986, which touched down about 18 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 16 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on June 10, 2008.
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 Saranac Lake'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.
Saranac Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Saranac Lake, NY?
KCXX (Burlington, VT), about 49 miles east-northeast. KTYX (Montague, NY) is 86 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Saranac Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Saranac Lake the lowest scan from KCXX is about 3,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Saranac Lake 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 Saranac Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Lake Placid, NY radar 8 mi
- Tupper Lake, NY radar 18 mi
- Dannemora, NY radar 34 mi
- Malone, NY radar 37 mi
- Plattsburgh, NY radar 42 mi
- Potsdam, NY radar 48 mi
- Norwood, NY radar 52 mi
- Canton, NY radar 54 mi
- Massena, NY radar 56 mi
- Champlain, NY radar 57 mi