Sykesville, PA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Sykesville, Jefferson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Sykesville?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 144 days in the Jefferson forecast zone and Jefferson County — the most common reported hazard around Sykesville, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (49 days) and flash flooding (40 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 144 | Jun 2026 | Aug 6, 2024 · $2.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 49 | Jan 2026 | Feb 1, 2008 · $25,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 40 | Jun 2025 | Jul 19, 1996 · $100 million damage |
| High winds | 23 | Mar 2026 | Sep 14, 2008 · $500,000 damage |
| Flooding | 22 | Jul 2020 | Jun 27, 2013 · $3.0 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 17 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 15 | Feb 2016 | Jan 5, 2005 · $30,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Jul 1997 | Jun 24, 1996 · $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 Jefferson forecast zone and Jefferson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Sykesville get?
A normal year brings about 63 inches of snow to Sykesville, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Grampian 1E weather station 12.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (18.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 | 2.9 | 11.8 | 18.8 | 18.0 | 8.2 | 2.4 | 0.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Sykesville?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KCCX (State College, PA), about 43 miles east. 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 Sykesville | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KCCX State College, PA | 43 mi east | 2,900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KPBZ Pittsburgh, PA | 82 mi west-southwest | 7,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KBUF Buffalo, NY | 132 mi north | 14,700 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 Sykesville
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 32 tornadoes within 25 miles of Sykesville, 8 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F4 on May 31, 1985, which passed about 12 miles northeast of town. The most recent was an EF2 on March 31, 2022, which passed about 25 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 81 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 2 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.00-inch hail on April 20, 2017.
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 Sykesville'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.
Sykesville radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Sykesville, PA?
KCCX (State College, PA), about 43 miles east. KPBZ (Pittsburgh, PA) is 82 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Sykesville?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Sykesville the lowest scan from KCCX is about 2,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Sykesville 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 Sykesville, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Reynoldsville, PA radar 5 mi
- DuBois, PA radar 6 mi
- Falls Creek, PA radar 7 mi
- Punxsutawney, PA radar 11 mi
- Brockway, PA radar 14 mi
- Curwensville, PA radar 16 mi
- Brookville, PA radar 16 mi
- Clearfield, PA radar 19 mi
- Hastings, PA radar 27 mi
- Northern Cambria, PA radar 27 mi