The Plains, OH Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for The Plains, Athens County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits The Plains?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 108 days in the Athens forecast zone and Athens County — the most common reported hazard around The Plains, mostly in June and July. Next come flooding (63 days) and flash flooding (46 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 108 | Jun 2026 | Jun 29, 2012 · $2.5 million damage |
| Flooding | 63 | May 2026 | Jan 5, 2005 · $4.5 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 46 | Jun 2026 | May 4, 2012 · 1 death · $250,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 41 | Mar 2026 | Jan 20, 2012 · $80,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 30 | Feb 2026 | Jan 6, 2014 · $100,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 18 | Jul 2011 | — |
| High winds | 16 | Apr 2023 | Dec 14, 2001 · $65,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 4 | Apr 2015 | Apr 11, 2001 · $40,000 damage |
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 Athens forecast zone and Athens County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does The Plains get?
A normal year brings about 18 inches of snow to The Plains, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Athens Ou weather station 3.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (5.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.5 | 3.0 | 5.8 | 5.9 | 2.3 | 0.1 | 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 The Plains?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRLX (Charleston, WV), about 76 miles south-southeast. 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 The Plains | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRLX Charleston, WV | 76 mi south-southeast | 6,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KILN Wilmington, OH | 90 mi west | 8,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KPBZ Pittsburgh, PA | 130 mi northeast | 14,400 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 The Plains
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 21 tornadoes within 25 miles of The Plains, 3 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and September. The strongest was an EF3 on September 16, 2010, which passed about 23 miles southeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on August 12, 2023, which touched down about 6 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 132 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 7 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on May 23, 2000.
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 The Plains'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.
The Plains radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to The Plains, OH?
KRLX (Charleston, WV), about 76 miles south-southeast. KILN (Wilmington, OH) is 90 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in The Plains?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over The Plains the lowest scan from KRLX is about 6,400 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for The Plains 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 The Plains, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Athens, OH radar 3 mi
- Nelsonville, OH radar 8 mi
- Glouster, OH radar 10 mi
- Albany, OH radar 10 mi
- Logan, OH radar 19 mi
- McArthur, OH radar 20 mi
- Pomeroy, OH radar 23 mi
- New Lexington, OH radar 25 mi
- McConnelsville, OH radar 26 mi
- Middleport, OH radar 26 mi