Kiawah Island, SC Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Kiawah IslandWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Kiawah Island?

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 Kiawah Island, 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 Kiawah Island?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KCLX (Charleston, SC), about 57 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 Kiawah IslandView
KCLX
Charleston, SC		57 mi west4,300 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KCAE
Columbia, SC		111 mi north-northwest11,200 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KLTX
Wilmington, NC		134 mi northeast15,100 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 Kiawah Island

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 60 tornadoes within 25 miles of Kiawah Island, 6 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in September and August. The strongest was an F3 on September 11, 1960, which passed about 14 miles north-northeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on September 27, 2024, which touched down about 13 miles north of town.

Hail: 181 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 3 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 Kiawah 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.

Kiawah Island radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Kiawah Island, SC?

KCLX (Charleston, SC), about 57 miles west. KCAE (Columbia, SC) is 111 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Kiawah Island?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Kiawah Island the lowest scan from KCLX is about 4,300 ft up — good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly.

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

Radar for nearby towns

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