Elgin, SC Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Elgin What TALON shows

What weather hits Elgin?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 190 days in the Kershaw forecast zone and Kershaw County — the most common reported hazard around Elgin, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (15 days) and flash flooding (11 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds	190	Jun 2026	Jun 20, 1996 · 1 death · $18,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms	15	Feb 2026	—
Flash flooding	11	Aug 2024	Oct 4, 2015 · 1 death · $20,000 damage
Ice storms & sleet	9	Jan 2026	Jan 30, 2010 · $20,000 damage
Hurricanes & tropical storms	5	Sep 2024	Sep 27, 2024 · $3.0 million damage
Lightning casualties & damage	3	Jun 2017	Mar 17, 2012 · $400,000 damage
Flooding	3	May 2016	May 8, 2013 · $5,000 damage
High winds	2	Oct 2016	Oct 8, 2016 · $600,000 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 Kershaw forecast zone and Kershaw County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Elgin?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KCAE (Columbia, SC), about 24 miles southwest. 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 Elgin	View
KCAE Columbia, SC	24 mi southwest	1,400 ft	Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KGSP Greer, SC	95 mi west-northwest	8,900 ft	Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KCLX Charleston, SC	106 mi south	10,500 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 Elgin

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 98 tornadoes within 25 miles of Elgin, 19 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in March and April. The strongest was an F4 on March 28, 1984, which passed about 19 miles north-northwest of town and caused 5 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on December 29, 2024, which passed about 21 miles west-northwest of town.

Hail: 243 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 14 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on September 25, 1988.

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 Elgin'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.

Elgin radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Elgin, SC?

KCAE (Columbia, SC), about 24 miles southwest. KGSP (Greer, SC) is 95 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Elgin?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Elgin the lowest scan from KCAE is about 1,400 ft up.

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

Radar for nearby towns

All South Carolina towns →