Palo Alto, PA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Palo Alto, Schuylkill County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Palo Alto?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 130 days in the Schuylkill forecast zone and Schuylkill County — the most common reported hazard around Palo Alto, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (70 days) and flash flooding (36 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 130 | Jun 2026 | Apr 19, 2013 · $50,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 70 | Jan 2026 | Mar 13, 2017 · 3 deaths |
| Flash flooding | 36 | Aug 2025 | Aug 12, 2009 · $100,000 damage |
| Flooding | 20 | Jun 2025 | Mar 10, 2011 · 1 death |
| High winds | 15 | Apr 2021 | Feb 12, 2009 · $25,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 9 | Jan 2022 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 5 | Jan 2025 | — |
| Excessive heat | 4 | Jun 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 Schuylkill forecast zone and Schuylkill County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Palo Alto get?
A normal year brings about 48 inches of snow to Palo Alto, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Mahanoy City 2 N weather station 10.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (12.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 2.2 | 9.0 | 12.3 | 12.7 | 9.2 | 2.1 | 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 Palo Alto?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KCCX (State College, PA), about 97 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 Palo Alto | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KCCX State College, PA | 97 mi west | 9,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KBGM Binghamton, NY | 105 mi north | 10,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDIX Philadelphia, NJ | 106 mi east-southeast | 10,500 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 Palo Alto
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 48 tornadoes within 25 miles of Palo Alto, 8 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F3 on June 18, 1970, which touched down about 20 miles south of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on May 4, 2025, which touched down about 19 miles south of town.
Hail: 98 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 6 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on May 26, 2011.
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 Palo Alto'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.
Palo Alto radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Palo Alto, PA?
KCCX (State College, PA), about 97 miles west. KBGM (Binghamton, NY) is 105 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Palo Alto?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Palo Alto the lowest scan from KCCX is about 9,200 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.