Rochester, OH Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Rochester, Lorain County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Rochester?
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 Rochester, 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 Rochester get?
A normal year brings about 47 inches of snow to Rochester, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Oberlin weather station 11.7 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 Rochester?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KCLE (Cleveland, OH), about 31 miles 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 Rochester | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KCLE Cleveland, OH | 31 mi northeast | 1,900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KPBZ Pittsburgh, PA | 117 mi east-southeast | 12,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDTX Detroit, MI | 124 mi north-northwest | 13,500 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 Rochester
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 111 tornadoes within 25 miles of Rochester, 21 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and July. The strongest was an F4 on April 11, 1965, which passed about 8 miles north-northeast of town and caused 18 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on August 13, 2025, which touched down about 6 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 263 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 11 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.50-inch hail on June 8, 1993.
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 Rochester'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.
Rochester radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Rochester, OH?
KCLE (Cleveland, OH), about 31 miles northeast. KPBZ (Pittsburgh, PA) is 117 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Rochester?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Rochester the lowest scan from KCLE is about 1,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Rochester 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 Rochester, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Wellington, OH radar 5 mi
- New London, OH radar 6 mi
- Wakeman, OH radar 10 mi
- Oberlin, OH radar 12 mi
- Greenwich, OH radar 13 mi
- LaGrange, OH radar 13 mi
- West Salem, OH radar 15 mi
- South Amherst, OH radar 16 mi
- Lodi, OH radar 17 mi
- Ashland, OH radar 18 mi