Palmdale, PA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Palmdale, Dauphin County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Palmdale?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 174 days in the Dauphin forecast zone and Dauphin County — the most common reported hazard around Palmdale, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (60 days) and flash flooding (39 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 174 | Jun 2026 | Dec 1, 2006 · $200,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 60 | Jan 2026 | Jan 22, 2016 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 39 | May 2025 | Jun 1, 2007 · $500,000 damage |
| Flooding | 24 | Jun 2025 | Sep 7, 2011 · 4 deaths · $151 million damage |
| High winds | 21 | Feb 2025 | Oct 29, 2017 · $25,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 12 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Jan 2009 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 3 | 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 Dauphin forecast zone and Dauphin County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Palmdale get?
A normal year brings about 24 inches of snow to Palmdale, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Lebanon 2 W weather station 8.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (7.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 0.5 | 4.0 | 6.8 | 7.8 | 4.2 | 0.4 | 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 Palmdale?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KCCX (State College, PA), about 84 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 Palmdale | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KCCX State College, PA | 84 mi west-northwest | 7,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 102 mi south-southwest | 9,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDIX Philadelphia, NJ | 119 mi east | 12,600 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 Palmdale
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 92 tornadoes within 25 miles of Palmdale, 24 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and May. The strongest was an F3 on June 18, 1970, which touched down about 19 miles east-northeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on August 9, 2024, which passed about 12 miles west of town.
Hail: 225 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 9 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 Palmdale'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.
Palmdale radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Palmdale, PA?
KCCX (State College, PA), about 84 miles west-northwest. KLWX (Sterling, MD) is 102 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Palmdale?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Palmdale the lowest scan from KCCX is about 7,400 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Palmdale 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 Palmdale, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Palmyra, PA radar 2 mi
- Hummelstown, PA radar 5 mi
- Cleona, PA radar 8 mi
- Middletown, PA radar 9 mi
- Royalton, PA radar 9 mi
- Elizabethtown, PA radar 10 mi
- Highspire, PA radar 10 mi
- Lebanon, PA radar 11 mi
- Jonestown, PA radar 11 mi
- Paxtang, PA radar 11 mi