Pittsburgh, PA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Pittsburgh, Allegheny County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Pittsburgh?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 280 days in the Allegheny forecast zone and Allegheny County — the most common reported hazard around Pittsburgh, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (173 days) and flooding (72 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 280 | Jun 2026 | May 31, 2002 · 1 death · $10 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 173 | Jun 2026 | Aug 19, 2011 · 4 deaths · $500,000 damage |
| Flooding | 72 | Aug 2021 | Sep 17, 2004 · 1 death · $26 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 38 | Mar 2026 | Jan 2, 1999 · 2 deaths |
| High winds | 34 | Mar 2026 | Feb 12, 2009 · $300,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 14 | Jan 2025 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 9 | May 2024 | May 25, 2024 · $50,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 8 | Dec 2016 | Jan 22, 2005 · $5,000 damage |
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 Allegheny forecast zone and Allegheny County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Pittsburgh get?
A normal year brings about 44 inches of snow to Pittsburgh, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Pittsburgh Intl Ap weather station 12.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (13.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 | 2.4 | 7.7 | 13.3 | 11.7 | 7.6 | 1.0 | 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 Pittsburgh?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPBZ (Pittsburgh, PA), about 14 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 Pittsburgh | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPBZ Pittsburgh, PA | 14 mi west-northwest | 800 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KCCX State College, PA | 109 mi east-northeast | 10,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KCLE Cleveland, OH | 119 mi northwest | 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 Pittsburgh
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 69 tornadoes within 25 miles of Pittsburgh, 15 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on June 3, 1980, which passed about 19 miles northeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 21, 2025, which touched down about 24 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 449 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 19 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.50-inch hail on March 28, 2020.
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 Pittsburgh'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.
Pittsburgh radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Pittsburgh, PA?
KPBZ (Pittsburgh, PA), about 14 miles west-northwest. KCCX (State College, PA) is 109 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Pittsburgh?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Pittsburgh the lowest scan from KPBZ is about 800 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Mount Oliver, PA radar 2 mi
- Millvale, PA radar 3 mi
- Etna, PA radar 4 mi
- Homestead, PA radar 4 mi
- Baldwin, PA radar 4 mi
- Green Tree, PA radar 4 mi
- Dormont, PA radar 5 mi
- Brentwood, PA radar 5 mi
- Sharpsburg, PA radar 5 mi
- West Homestead, PA radar 5 mi