Alcolu, SC Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Alcolu, Clarendon County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for AlcoluWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Alcolu?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 158 days in the Clarendon forecast zone and Clarendon County — the most common reported hazard around Alcolu, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (14 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (9 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds158May 2026May 23, 2026 · 1 death
Flash flooding14Aug 2024Oct 4, 2015 · $11 million damage
Heavy snow & winter storms9Feb 2026Jan 28, 2014 · $12,000 damage
Ice storms & sleet6Jan 2026—
Hurricanes & tropical storms6Sep 2024Sep 27, 2024 · $700,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage3Jun 2000Jun 17, 2000 · 1 death
High winds2Oct 2016Oct 7, 2016 · $500,000 damage
Excessive heat1Aug 1999Aug 1, 1999 · 1 death

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 Clarendon forecast zone and Clarendon County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Alcolu?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KCAE (Columbia, SC), about 53 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over AlcoluView
KCAE
Columbia, SC		53 mi west-northwest3,800 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KCLX
Charleston, SC		90 mi south-southwest8,200 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KLTX
Wilmington, NC		104 mi east10,200 ftLimited — 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 Alcolu

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 88 tornadoes within 25 miles of Alcolu, 12 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in September and April. The strongest was an EF3 on April 15, 2007, which passed about 12 miles northwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on May 30, 2025, which passed about 14 miles south-southwest of town.

Hail: 156 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 11 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on April 16, 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 Alcolu'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.

Alcolu radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Alcolu, SC?

KCAE (Columbia, SC), about 53 miles west-northwest. KCLX (Charleston, SC) is 90 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Alcolu?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Alcolu the lowest scan from KCAE is about 3,800 ft up.

Is TALON's radar for Alcolu 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 Alcolu, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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