Lorain, OH Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lorain, Lorain County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lorain?
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 Lorain, 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 Lorain get?
A normal year brings about 44 inches of snow to Lorain, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Elyria 3 E weather station 7.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (12.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 2.2 | 8.8 | 12.9 | 10.2 | 7.6 | 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 Lorain?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KCLE (Cleveland, OH), about 17 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 Lorain | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KCLE Cleveland, OH | 17 mi east | 900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KDTX Detroit, MI | 110 mi northwest | 11,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KPBZ Pittsburgh, PA | 120 mi east-southeast | 12,700 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 Lorain
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 68 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lorain, 13 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and July. The strongest was an F4 on April 11, 1965, which passed about 13 miles south-southeast of town and caused 18 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on July 7, 2025, which touched down about 25 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 198 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 8 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 Lorain'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.
Lorain radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lorain, OH?
KCLE (Cleveland, OH), about 17 miles east. KDTX (Detroit, MI) is 110 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lorain?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lorain the lowest scan from KCLE is about 900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Lorain 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 Lorain, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Amherst, OH radar 4 mi
- Sheffield, OH radar 5 mi
- Sheffield Lake, OH radar 5 mi
- Elyria, OH radar 6 mi
- South Amherst, OH radar 7 mi
- Vermilion, OH radar 7 mi
- North Ridgeville, OH radar 9 mi
- Avon, OH radar 9 mi
- Avon Lake, OH radar 9 mi
- Oberlin, OH radar 11 mi