Scranton, PA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Scranton, Lackawanna County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Scranton?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 115 days in the Lackawanna forecast zone and Lackawanna County — the most common reported hazard around Scranton, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (70 days) and flash flooding (45 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 115 | Jun 2026 | Nov 25, 2004 · $200,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 70 | Jan 2026 | Jan 3, 2003 · $300,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 45 | Jun 2026 | Sep 9, 2023 · 2 deaths · $2.5 million damage |
| High winds | 18 | Mar 2021 | Sep 16, 1999 · $630,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 15 | Jun 2026 | Sep 13, 2001 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 13 | May 2019 | Jun 27, 2006 · $5.0 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 10 | Feb 2026 | Jan 15, 2004 · $10,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Feb 2021 | — |
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 Lackawanna forecast zone and Lackawanna County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Scranton get?
A normal year brings about 45 inches of snow to Scranton, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Wilkes-Barre Intl Ap weather station 5.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (11.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.7 | 3.2 | 7.7 | 11.7 | 10.9 | 10.1 | 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 Scranton?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBGM (Binghamton, NY), about 57 miles north-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 Scranton | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBGM Binghamton, NY | 57 mi north-northwest | 4,300 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KENX Albany, NY | 116 mi northeast | 12,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDIX Philadelphia, NJ | 120 mi south-southeast | 12,800 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 Scranton
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 47 tornadoes within 25 miles of Scranton, 10 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and May. The strongest was an F3 on June 2, 1998, which passed about 13 miles north-northwest of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on July 2, 2023, which touched down about 4 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 132 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 6 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on May 28, 2019.
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 Scranton'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.
Scranton radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Scranton, PA?
KBGM (Binghamton, NY), about 57 miles north-northwest. KENX (Albany, NY) is 116 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Scranton?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Scranton the lowest scan from KBGM is about 4,300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Scranton 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 Scranton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Taylor, PA radar 3 mi
- Dunmore, PA radar 3 mi
- Moosic, PA radar 4 mi
- Throop, PA radar 4 mi
- Old Forge, PA radar 5 mi
- Dickson City, PA radar 5 mi
- Olyphant, PA radar 6 mi
- Avoca, PA radar 6 mi
- Clarks Summit, PA radar 6 mi
- Blakely, PA radar 7 mi