Hilton Head Island, SC Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Hilton Head Island, Beaufort County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for Hilton Head IslandWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Hilton Head Island?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 214 days in the Beaufort forecast zone and Beaufort County — the most common reported hazard around Hilton Head Island, mostly in June and July. Next come lightning casualties & damage (46 days) and flash flooding (27 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds214Jun 2026Sep 20, 2021 · $100,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage46Jul 2025Jul 30, 2007 · 1 death
Flash flooding27Aug 2025Jul 21, 2014 · $10,000 damage
Flooding2Aug 2024Jul 7, 2020 · $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 Beaufort forecast zone and Beaufort County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Hilton Head Island?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KCLX (Charleston, SC), about 37 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over Hilton Head IslandView
KCLX
Charleston, SC		37 mi north-northwest2,400 ftExcellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KCAE
Columbia, SC		124 mi north13,300 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KJAX
Jacksonville, FL		131 mi south-southwest14,600 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 Hilton Head Island

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 61 tornadoes within 25 miles of Hilton Head Island, 6 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and September. The strongest was an F2 on September 3, 1998, which passed about 21 miles east-northeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on July 10, 2025, which touched down about 21 miles west of town.

Hail: 157 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 10 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.50-inch hail on April 5, 1993.

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 Hilton Head Island'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.

Hilton Head Island radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Hilton Head Island, SC?

KCLX (Charleston, SC), about 37 miles north-northwest. KCAE (Columbia, SC) is 124 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Hilton Head Island?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Hilton Head Island the lowest scan from KCLX is about 2,400 ft up — excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground.

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

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