West Chester, PA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for West Chester, Chester County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits West Chester?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 250 days in the Eastern Chester forecast zone and Chester County — the most common reported hazard around West Chester, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (108 days) and flooding (63 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 250 | Jun 2026 | Jul 18, 2006 · 2 deaths |
| Flash flooding | 108 | Jul 2025 | Sep 1, 2021 · 1 death · $41 million damage |
| Flooding | 63 | Jul 2025 | Nov 8, 2006 · 1 death |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 34 | Apr 2023 | Apr 15, 2023 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 24 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 16 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 10 | Dec 2022 | — |
| High winds | 6 | Apr 2021 | Jan 31, 2013 · $10,000 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 Eastern Chester forecast zone and Chester County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does West Chester get?
A normal year brings about 31 inches of snow to West Chester, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the W Chester 2 Nw weather station 1.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (13.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.5 | 4.4 | 7.9 | 13.2 | 4.1 | 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 West Chester?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDIX (Philadelphia, NJ), about 63 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 West Chester | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDIX Philadelphia, NJ | 63 mi east | 4,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDOX Dover AFB, DE | 79 mi south | 6,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 121 mi west-southwest | 12,900 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 West Chester
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 86 tornadoes within 25 miles of West Chester, 23 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and August. The strongest was an F3 on July 27, 1994, which touched down about 19 miles north-northeast of town and caused 3 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on August 8, 2024, which touched down about 15 miles south of town.
Hail: 196 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 5 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on May 29, 1995.
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 West Chester'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.
West Chester radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to West Chester, PA?
KDIX (Philadelphia, NJ), about 63 miles east. KDOX (Dover AFB, DE) is 79 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in West Chester?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over West Chester the lowest scan from KDIX is about 4,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for West Chester 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 West Chester, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Downingtown, PA radar 6 mi
- Malvern, PA radar 7 mi
- Chester Heights, PA radar 9 mi
- Kennett Square, PA radar 10 mi
- South Coatesville, PA radar 11 mi
- Coatesville, PA radar 11 mi
- Media, PA radar 12 mi
- Rose Valley, PA radar 13 mi
- Phoenixville, PA radar 13 mi
- Brookhaven, PA radar 13 mi