West Elmira, NY Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for West Elmira, Chemung County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits West Elmira?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 89 days in the Chemung forecast zone and Chemung County — the most common reported hazard around West Elmira, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (60 days) and flash flooding (28 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 89 | Jun 2026 | Apr 29, 2025 · $75,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 60 | Jan 2026 | Jan 3, 2003 · $300,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 28 | Aug 2024 | Jan 19, 1996 · $18 million damage |
| Flooding | 16 | Apr 2020 | Sep 9, 2004 · $500,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 14 | Jan 2022 | Jan 10, 2004 · $10,000 damage |
| High winds | 12 | Feb 2019 | Feb 18, 2011 · $50,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Mar 2008 | Jan 1, 2003 · $100,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 4 | Mar 2012 | — |
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 Chemung forecast zone and Chemung County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does West Elmira get?
A normal year brings about 42 inches of snow to West Elmira, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Elmira weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually March (11.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 2.7 | 8.4 | 8.4 | 9.5 | 11.2 | 1.5 | 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 West Elmira?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBGM (Binghamton, NY), about 45 miles east. 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 West Elmira | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBGM Binghamton, NY | 45 mi east | 3,100 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KCCX State College, PA | 100 mi southwest | 9,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KBUF Buffalo, NY | 113 mi west-northwest | 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 West Elmira
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 22 tornadoes within 25 miles of West Elmira, 5 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and May. The strongest was an F3 on May 2, 1983, which passed about 9 miles east-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on June 19, 2017, which touched down about 19 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 160 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 5 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.50-inch hail on May 31, 2002.
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 West Elmira'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.
West Elmira radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to West Elmira, NY?
KBGM (Binghamton, NY), about 45 miles east. KCCX (State College, PA) is 100 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in West Elmira?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over West Elmira the lowest scan from KBGM is about 3,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for West Elmira 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 West Elmira, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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