Thurston, OH Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Thurston, Fairfield County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Thurston?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 148 days in the Fairfield forecast zone and Fairfield County — the most common reported hazard around Thurston, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (50 days) and flooding (41 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 148 | Jun 2026 | Apr 20, 2011 · $60,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 50 | Jan 2026 | Jan 6, 1996 · $500,000 damage |
| Flooding | 41 | May 2026 | Jan 5, 2005 · $25,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 26 | Jul 2025 | Jan 21, 1999 · 2 deaths |
| High winds | 13 | Mar 2026 | Sep 14, 2008 · 1 death · $17 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Feb 2011 | — |
| Excessive heat | 5 | Jul 2019 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 3 | Dec 2022 | Feb 1, 1996 · $20,000 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 Fairfield forecast zone and Fairfield County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Thurston get?
A normal year brings about 17 inches of snow to Thurston, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Buckeye Lake 1 N weather station 8.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (6.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.3 | 2.9 | 5.4 | 6.2 | 2.1 | 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 Thurston?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KILN (Wilmington, OH), about 74 miles west-southwest. 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 Thurston | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KILN Wilmington, OH | 74 mi west-southwest | 6,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KCLE Cleveland, OH | 114 mi north-northeast | 11,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KRLX Charleston, WV | 115 mi south-southeast | 11,900 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 Thurston
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 81 tornadoes within 25 miles of Thurston, 17 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in September and April. The strongest was an F3 on May 31, 1985, which passed about 24 miles north of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on March 30, 2025, which touched down about 21 miles west of town.
Hail: 222 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 14 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 Thurston'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.
Thurston radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Thurston, OH?
KILN (Wilmington, OH), about 74 miles west-southwest. KCLE (Cleveland, OH) is 114 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Thurston?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Thurston the lowest scan from KILN is about 6,100 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Thurston 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 Thurston, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Baltimore, OH radar 3 mi
- Buckeye Lake, OH radar 7 mi
- Thornville, OH radar 8 mi
- Lancaster, OH radar 9 mi
- Hebron, OH radar 9 mi
- Bremen, OH radar 11 mi
- Pickerington, OH radar 12 mi
- Somerset, OH radar 13 mi
- Heath, OH radar 14 mi
- Lithopolis, OH radar 14 mi