Schenectady, NY Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Schenectady, Schenectady County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Schenectady?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 97 days in the Eastern Schenectady forecast zone and Schenectady County — the most common reported hazard around Schenectady, mostly in July and May. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (83 days) and excessive heat (54 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 97 | Jun 2026 | Jul 1, 2016 · $203,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 83 | Jan 2026 | Mar 31, 1997 · $250,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 54 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 32 | Mar 2026 | Jan 19, 1996 · 1 death · $3.0 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 29 | Feb 2026 | — |
| High winds | 28 | Mar 2025 | Mar 6, 1997 · $4.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 23 | Aug 2020 | Jul 23, 2008 · $2.0 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 10 | Sep 2021 | May 27, 2015 · $75,000 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 Eastern Schenectady forecast zone and Schenectady County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Schenectady get?
A normal year brings about 59 inches of snow to Schenectady, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Albany Ap weather station 7.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (15.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 2.6 | 13.3 | 15.6 | 13.7 | 12.0 | 1.6 | 0.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Schenectady?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KENX (Albany, NY), about 17 miles south-southwest. 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 Schenectady | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KENX Albany, NY | 17 mi south-southwest | 900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KTYX Montague, NY | 110 mi northwest | 11,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KBGM Binghamton, NY | 113 mi west-southwest | 11,600 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 Schenectady
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 35 tornadoes within 25 miles of Schenectady, 8 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and May. The strongest was an F4 on July 10, 1989, which passed about 22 miles southwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on July 24, 2024, which touched down about 21 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 330 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 21 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on May 22, 2014.
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 Schenectady'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.
Schenectady radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Schenectady, NY?
KENX (Albany, NY), about 17 miles south-southwest. KTYX (Montague, NY) is 110 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Schenectady?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Schenectady the lowest scan from KENX is about 900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Schenectady 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 Schenectady, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Scotia, NY radar 3 mi
- Colonie, NY radar 7 mi
- Altamont, NY radar 9 mi
- Voorheesville, NY radar 10 mi
- Cohoes, NY radar 11 mi
- Albany, NY radar 12 mi
- Watervliet, NY radar 12 mi
- Green Island, NY radar 12 mi
- Waterford, NY radar 13 mi
- Menands, NY radar 13 mi