Amherst, OH Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Amherst, Lorain County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Amherst?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 186 days in the Lorain forecast zone and Lorain County — the most common reported hazard around Amherst, mostly in June and July. Next come high winds (56 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (54 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 186 | Jun 2026 | Nov 10, 2002 · $2.4 million damage |
| High winds | 56 | Apr 2024 | Sep 14, 2008 · 1 death · $16 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 54 | Jan 2024 | Dec 22, 2004 · $4.7 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 48 | May 2024 | Jul 16, 2005 · 2 deaths · $1.2 million damage |
| Flooding | 16 | Aug 2023 | Jun 22, 2006 · 1 death · $9.5 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 11 | Dec 2022 | Dec 23, 2022 · 1 death |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 10 | Sep 2005 | Jul 21, 1998 · $600,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 2 | Jul 1999 | — |
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 Lorain forecast zone and Lorain County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Amherst get?
A normal year brings about 47 inches of snow to Amherst, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Oberlin weather station 8.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (14.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 1.4 | 8.5 | 14.4 | 12.4 | 8.4 | 1.9 | 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 Amherst?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KCLE (Cleveland, OH), about 19 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 Amherst | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KCLE Cleveland, OH | 19 mi east | 1,100 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KDTX Detroit, MI | 110 mi northwest | 11,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KPBZ Pittsburgh, PA | 121 mi east-southeast | 12,900 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 Amherst
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 76 tornadoes within 25 miles of Amherst, 14 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and July. The strongest was an F4 on April 11, 1965, which passed about 11 miles south-southeast of town and caused 18 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on August 13, 2025, which touched down about 24 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 189 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 9 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.50-inch hail on May 7, 2010.
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 Amherst'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.
Amherst radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Amherst, OH?
KCLE (Cleveland, OH), about 19 miles east. KDTX (Detroit, MI) is 110 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Amherst?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Amherst the lowest scan from KCLE is about 1,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Amherst 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 Amherst, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Lorain, OH radar 4 mi
- South Amherst, OH radar 4 mi
- Vermilion, OH radar 4 mi
- Elyria, OH radar 7 mi
- Sheffield, OH radar 8 mi
- Oberlin, OH radar 8 mi
- Sheffield Lake, OH radar 9 mi
- North Ridgeville, OH radar 11 mi
- Avon, OH radar 12 mi
- Avon Lake, OH radar 13 mi