Columbia, PA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Columbia, Lancaster County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Columbia?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 234 days in the Lancaster forecast zone and Lancaster County — the most common reported hazard around Columbia, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (69 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (64 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 234 | Jun 2026 | Jul 25, 2010 · 1 death · $5,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 69 | Sep 2025 | Jun 25, 2000 · $4.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 64 | Feb 2026 | Jan 22, 2016 · 2 deaths |
| Flooding | 54 | Jul 2025 | Sep 7, 2011 · 3 deaths · $800,000 damage |
| High winds | 25 | Dec 2025 | Feb 12, 2009 · $50,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 13 | Jul 2025 | Oct 4, 2023 · 1 death |
| Ice storms & sleet | 7 | Feb 2008 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 6 | Jun 2025 | Aug 31, 2014 · 1 death |
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 Lancaster forecast zone and Lancaster County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Columbia get?
A normal year brings about 23 inches of snow to Columbia, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Landisville 2 Nw weather station 6.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (7.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.7 | 3.9 | 7.1 | 6.7 | 4.5 | 0.3 | 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 Columbia?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 90 miles 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 Columbia | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 90 mi southwest | 8,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KCCX State College, PA | 100 mi northwest | 9,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDOX Dover AFB, DE | 101 mi southeast | 9,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
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 Columbia
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 75 tornadoes within 25 miles of Columbia, 25 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F3 on April 5, 1952, which passed about 13 miles west-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on September 4, 2025, which touched down about 23 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 219 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 13 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on April 9, 1980.
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 Columbia'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.
Columbia radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Columbia, PA?
KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 90 miles southwest. KCCX (State College, PA) is 100 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Columbia?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Columbia the lowest scan from KLWX is about 8,200 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Columbia 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 Columbia, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Wrightsville, PA radar 2 mi
- Mountville, PA radar 3 mi
- Marietta, PA radar 3 mi
- Mount Joy, PA radar 5 mi
- Hallam, PA radar 6 mi
- Millersville, PA radar 8 mi
- East Petersburg, PA radar 9 mi
- Windsor, PA radar 9 mi
- Elizabethtown, PA radar 10 mi
- Lancaster, PA radar 10 mi