Ernest, PA Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Ernest, Indiana County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for Ernest What TALON shows

What weather hits Ernest?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 159 days in the Indiana forecast zone and Indiana County — the most common reported hazard around Ernest, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (43 days) and flooding (15 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds	159	Jun 2026	Nov 15, 2020 · $100,000 damage
Flash flooding	43	Jun 2025	Jun 22, 2017 · 1 death
Flooding	15	Aug 2023	Jul 26, 2012 · $150,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms	4	Jan 2026	—
High winds	2	Jan 2024	Jan 9, 2024 · $250,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill	1	Jan 2025	—

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 Indiana forecast zone and Indiana County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

How much snow does Ernest get?

A normal year brings about 46 inches of snow to Ernest, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Indiana 3 Se weather station 6.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (13.3 in).

Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May
0.0	2.7	10.8	13.3	11.8	6.1	1.1	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 Ernest?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPBZ (Pittsburgh, PA), about 56 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 Ernest	View
KPBZ Pittsburgh, PA	56 mi west	4,200 ft	Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KCCX State College, PA	63 mi east-northeast	4,900 ft	Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KLWX Sterling, MD	148 mi southeast	17,700 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 Ernest

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 47 tornadoes within 25 miles of Ernest, 16 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F4 on June 3, 1980, which passed about 19 miles west-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on March 16, 2025, which touched down about 25 miles south of town.

Hail: 154 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 May 4, 2025.

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 Ernest'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.

Ernest radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Ernest, PA?

KPBZ (Pittsburgh, PA), about 56 miles west. KCCX (State College, PA) is 63 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Ernest?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Ernest the lowest scan from KPBZ is about 4,200 ft up — good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly.

Is TALON's radar for Ernest 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 Ernest, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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