Swansea, SC Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Swansea, Lexington County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Swansea?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 333 days in the Lexington forecast zone and Lexington County — the most common reported hazard around Swansea, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (35 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (12 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 333 | Jun 2026 | Aug 30, 1998 · 1 death · $12,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 35 | Sep 2025 | Oct 10, 2015 · $6.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 12 | Jan 2026 | Nov 1, 2014 · $12,000 damage |
| Flooding | 11 | May 2026 | Oct 8, 2016 · $5,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 11 | Jun 2025 | Jun 27, 2015 · 1 death |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 5 | Jan 2022 | Oct 8, 2016 · $750,000 damage |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 5 | Sep 2024 | Sep 27, 2024 · $20 million 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 Lexington forecast zone and Lexington County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Swansea get?
A normal year brings about 1.2 inches of snow to Swansea, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Columbia weather station 14.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (0.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Swansea?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KCAE (Columbia, SC), about 14 miles north. 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 Swansea | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KCAE Columbia, SC | 14 mi north | 800 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KCLX Charleston, SC | 75 mi south | 6,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KGSP Greer, SC | 101 mi northwest | 9,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
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 Swansea
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 117 tornadoes within 25 miles of Swansea, 31 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and March. The strongest was an EF3 on April 13, 2020, which passed about 13 miles southeast of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on September 26, 2024, which passed about 18 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 274 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 12 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 Swansea'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.
Swansea radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Swansea, SC?
KCAE (Columbia, SC), about 14 miles north. KCLX (Charleston, SC) is 75 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Swansea?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Swansea the lowest scan from KCAE is about 800 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Swansea 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 Swansea, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Gaston, SC radar 5 mi
- Pine Ridge, SC radar 11 mi
- South Congaree, SC radar 12 mi
- Cayce, SC radar 15 mi
- Springdale, SC radar 15 mi
- West Columbia, SC radar 17 mi
- Lexington, SC radar 19 mi
- St. Matthews, SC radar 19 mi
- Forest Acres, SC radar 22 mi
- Orangeburg, SC radar 22 mi