Orwell, OH Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Orwell, Ashtabula County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Orwell?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 162 days in the Ashtabula Inland forecast zone and Ashtabula County — the most common reported hazard around Orwell, mostly in December and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (146 days) and high winds (45 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 162 | Feb 2025 | Mar 4, 2008 · $5.0 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 146 | Jun 2026 | Apr 12, 1996 · 2 deaths · $100,000 damage |
| High winds | 45 | Jan 2024 | Sep 14, 2008 · $1.5 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 34 | Jun 2025 | Jul 28, 2006 · $14 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 12 | Dec 2022 | May 20, 2002 · $2.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 9 | Mar 2020 | Feb 1, 2020 · $10 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 7 | Jul 2005 | Jun 24, 1996 · $200,000 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 Ashtabula Inland forecast zone and Ashtabula County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Orwell get?
A normal year brings about 90 inches of snow to Orwell, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Dorset weather station 14.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (29.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 | 8.4 | 20.8 | 29.6 | 15.8 | 12.5 | 2.4 | 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 Orwell?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KCLE (Cleveland, OH), about 53 miles west. 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 Orwell | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KCLE Cleveland, OH | 53 mi west | 3,800 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KPBZ Pittsburgh, PA | 77 mi south-southeast | 6,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KBUF Buffalo, NY | 146 mi northeast | 17,400 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 Orwell
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 55 tornadoes within 25 miles of Orwell, 15 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and July. The strongest was an F5 on May 31, 1985, which passed about 23 miles south of town and caused 18 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on August 12, 2025, which touched down about 10 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 178 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 4 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.50-inch hail on August 19, 1968.
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 Orwell'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.
Orwell radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Orwell, OH?
KCLE (Cleveland, OH), about 53 miles west. KPBZ (Pittsburgh, PA) is 77 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Orwell?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Orwell the lowest scan from KCLE is about 3,800 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Orwell 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 Orwell, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Roaming Shores, OH radar 7 mi
- Middlefield, OH radar 12 mi
- Jefferson, OH radar 15 mi
- Burton, OH radar 16 mi
- Cortland, OH radar 16 mi
- Chardon, OH radar 18 mi
- Geneva, OH radar 19 mi
- Madison, OH radar 19 mi
- Warren, OH radar 21 mi
- Garrettsville, OH radar 21 mi