Isle of Palms, SC Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Isle of Palms, Charleston County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for Isle of PalmsWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Isle of Palms?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 222 days in the Charleston forecast zone and Charleston County — the most common reported hazard around Isle of Palms, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (100 days) and lightning casualties & damage (39 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds222Jun 2026Aug 11, 2000 · $200,000 damage
Flash flooding100Jun 2026Dec 17, 2023 · 1 death
Lightning casualties & damage39Aug 2025Jun 18, 2005 · 1 death
Flooding6Aug 2025Jul 19, 2013 · $20,000 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 Charleston forecast zone and Charleston County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Isle of Palms?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KCLX (Charleston, SC), about 76 miles west. 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 Isle of PalmsView
KCLX
Charleston, SC		76 mi west6,300 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KCAE
Columbia, SC		112 mi northwest11,400 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KLTX
Wilmington, NC		112 mi northeast11,400 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 Isle of Palms

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 59 tornadoes within 25 miles of Isle of Palms, 5 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in September and August. The strongest was an F3 on September 11, 1960, which passed about 5 miles west-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on September 27, 2024, which touched down about 20 miles west of town.

Hail: 201 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 10, 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 Isle of Palms'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.

Isle of Palms radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Isle of Palms, SC?

KCLX (Charleston, SC), about 76 miles west. KCAE (Columbia, SC) is 112 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Isle of Palms?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Isle of Palms the lowest scan from KCLX is about 6,300 ft up — fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation.

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

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