Vails Gate, NY Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Vails Gate, Orange County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Vails Gate?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 160 days in the Orange forecast zone and Orange County — the most common reported hazard around Vails Gate, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (90 days) and flash flooding (63 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 160 | Jun 2026 | May 15, 2018 · 1 death · $5,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 90 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 63 | Jul 2025 | Jul 9, 2023 · 1 death |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 28 | Sep 2023 | Jul 28, 2006 · 1 death |
| High winds | 26 | Feb 2025 | Nov 13, 2003 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 18 | Dec 2011 | Aug 28, 2011 · 1 death |
| Excessive heat | 13 | Jul 2019 | Jul 22, 2011 · 1 death |
| Ice storms & sleet | 9 | Feb 2025 | — |
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 Orange forecast zone and Orange County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Vails Gate get?
A normal year brings about 36 inches of snow to Vails Gate, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the West Point weather station 6.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (11.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.5 | 7.0 | 11.1 | 7.1 | 9.6 | 0.4 | 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 Vails Gate?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOKX (Upton, NY), about 74 miles east-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 Vails Gate | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOKX Upton, NY | 74 mi east-southeast | 6,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KENX Albany, NY | 78 mi north | 6,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDIX Philadelphia, NJ | 106 mi south | 10,500 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 Vails Gate
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 37 tornadoes within 25 miles of Vails Gate, 8 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F3 on July 14, 1988, which passed about 23 miles west-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on August 9, 2024, which touched down about 18 miles north of town.
Hail: 159 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 3 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.50-inch hail on June 20, 1995.
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 Vails Gate'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.
Vails Gate radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Vails Gate, NY?
KOKX (Upton, NY), about 74 miles east-southeast. KENX (Albany, NY) is 78 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Vails Gate?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Vails Gate the lowest scan from KOKX is about 6,200 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Vails Gate 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 Vails Gate, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.