West Hempstead, NY Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for West Hempstead, Nassau County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits West Hempstead?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 107 days in the Southern Nassau forecast zone and Nassau County — the most common reported hazard around West Hempstead, mostly in July and August. Next come flash flooding (79 days) and coastal flooding (51 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 107 | Jun 2026 | Sep 7, 1998 · $2.5 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 79 | Jul 2025 | Oct 14, 2005 · $11 million damage |
| Coastal flooding | 51 | Jan 2024 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 23 | Jan 2026 | Jan 25, 2026 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 19 | Oct 2017 | Apr 30, 2014 · $16,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 19 | Jul 2025 | Mar 11, 2000 · 1 death |
| High winds | 12 | Jan 2024 | Oct 29, 2012 · 6 deaths · $1.0 million damage |
| Blizzards | 5 | Feb 2026 | Dec 26, 2010 · 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 Southern Nassau forecast zone and Nassau County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does West Hempstead get?
A normal year brings about 19 inches of snow to West Hempstead, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Mineola weather station 3.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (6.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.2 | 5.7 | 2.9 | 6.2 | 3.1 | 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 West Hempstead?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOKX (Upton, NY), about 43 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 West Hempstead | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOKX Upton, NY | 43 mi east-northeast | 2,900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KDIX Philadelphia, NJ | 65 mi southwest | 5,200 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KENX Albany, NY | 132 mi north | 14,900 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 Hempstead
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 29 tornadoes within 25 miles of West Hempstead, 5 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in September and August. The strongest was an EF2 on August 8, 2007, which passed about 17 miles west-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on November 13, 2021, which passed about 2 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 114 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 8 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on August 1, 2011.
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 Hempstead'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 Hempstead radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to West Hempstead, NY?
KOKX (Upton, NY), about 43 miles east-northeast. KDIX (Philadelphia, NJ) is 65 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in West Hempstead?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over West Hempstead the lowest scan from KOKX is about 2,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for West Hempstead 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 Hempstead, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.