Lawson Heights, PA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lawson Heights, Westmoreland County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lawson Heights?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 292 days in the Westmoreland forecast zone and Westmoreland County — the most common reported hazard around Lawson Heights, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (108 days) and flooding (40 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 292 | Jun 2026 | Jun 29, 2008 · 1 death · $150,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 108 | Jul 2025 | Mar 28, 2020 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 40 | Apr 2024 | Feb 4, 2022 · $50,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 14 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 11 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 11 | Aug 2024 | Jun 13, 2019 · 2 deaths |
| High winds | 10 | Mar 2026 | Jan 9, 2024 · $250,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Dec 2016 | — |
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 Westmoreland forecast zone and Westmoreland County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Lawson Heights get?
A normal year brings about 48 inches of snow to Lawson Heights, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Derry 4 Sw weather station 2.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (14.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 2.2 | 10.0 | 14.6 | 10.7 | 9.6 | 0.8 | 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 Lawson Heights?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPBZ (Pittsburgh, PA), about 47 miles west-northwest. 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 Lawson Heights | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPBZ Pittsburgh, PA | 47 mi west-northwest | 3,200 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KCCX State College, PA | 85 mi east-northeast | 7,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 136 mi southeast | 15,500 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 Lawson Heights
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 69 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lawson Heights, 20 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on June 3, 1980, which passed about 21 miles north-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on March 16, 2025, which passed about 10 miles south of town.
Hail: 226 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 13 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on July 20, 1983.
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 Lawson Heights'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.
Lawson Heights radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lawson Heights, PA?
KPBZ (Pittsburgh, PA), about 47 miles west-northwest. KCCX (State College, PA) is 85 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lawson Heights?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lawson Heights the lowest scan from KPBZ is about 3,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Lawson Heights 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 Lawson Heights, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Latrobe, PA radar 1 mi
- Derry, PA radar 5 mi
- Greensburg, PA radar 8 mi
- Southwest Greensburg, PA radar 8 mi
- South Greensburg, PA radar 9 mi
- Ligonier, PA radar 9 mi
- Youngwood, PA radar 11 mi
- Blairsville, PA radar 12 mi
- Jeannette, PA radar 12 mi
- New Stanton, PA radar 13 mi