Irwin, SC Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for IrwinWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Irwin?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 153 days in the Southern Lancaster forecast zone and Lancaster County — the most common reported hazard around Irwin, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (21 days) and lightning casualties & damage (6 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds153Jun 2026May 22, 2020 · 1 death
Flash flooding21May 2026Sep 19, 2014 · $85,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage6Aug 2018Apr 8, 2005 · $125,000 damage
Flooding4May 2020Jan 12, 2015 · 1 death · $8,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms3Jan 2026—
Hurricanes & tropical storms2Sep 2024Sep 27, 2024 · $800,000 damage
Ice storms & sleet1Jan 2022—

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

Which radars cover Irwin?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KCAE (Columbia, SC), about 54 miles south-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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over IrwinView
KCAE
Columbia, SC		54 mi south-southwest4,000 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KGSP
Greer, SC		80 mi west6,900 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KCLX
Charleston, SC		141 mi south16,500 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 Irwin

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 56 tornadoes within 25 miles of Irwin, 12 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F4 on March 28, 1984, which passed about 20 miles south-southwest of town and caused 5 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on December 29, 2024, which passed about 25 miles south-southwest of town.

Hail: 229 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 20 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on April 24, 1955.

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 Irwin'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.

Irwin radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Irwin, SC?

KCAE (Columbia, SC), about 54 miles south-southwest. KGSP (Greer, SC) is 80 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Irwin?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Irwin the lowest scan from KCAE is about 4,000 ft up — good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly.

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

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