Afton, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Afton, Nelson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Afton?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 122 days in the Nelson forecast zone and Nelson County — the most common reported hazard around Afton, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (46 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (44 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 122 | Mar 2026 | May 26, 2024 · 1 death · $5,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 46 | Jul 2025 | Sep 6, 1996 · $1.1 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 44 | Jan 2026 | Feb 5, 2010 · $5,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 34 | Jul 2020 | — |
| Flooding | 33 | May 2025 | Jun 5, 2016 · $20,000 damage |
| High winds | 18 | Apr 2025 | Sep 6, 1996 · $265,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 12 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Feb 2008 | Feb 4, 1998 · $160,000 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 Nelson forecast zone and Nelson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Afton get?
A normal year brings about 11 inches of snow to Afton, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Free Union weather station 14.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (4.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.1 | 2.2 | 4.1 | 3.1 | 1.4 | 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 Afton?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 98 miles northeast. 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 Afton | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 98 mi northeast | 9,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFCX Blacksburg, VA | 105 mi southwest | 10,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 123 mi southeast | 13,300 ft | Limited — 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 Afton
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 27 tornadoes within 25 miles of Afton, 4 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F3 on September 30, 1959, which touched down about 12 miles east of town and caused 11 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on April 26, 2022, which passed about 5 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 157 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 14 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 4, 2002.
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 Afton'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.
Afton radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Afton, VA?
KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 98 miles northeast. KFCX (Blacksburg, VA) is 105 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Afton?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Afton the lowest scan from KLWX is about 9,300 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Afton 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 Afton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Waynesboro, VA radar 5 mi
- Staunton, VA radar 16 mi
- Grottoes, VA radar 17 mi
- Charlottesville, VA radar 19 mi
- Bridgewater, VA radar 26 mi
- Dayton, VA radar 28 mi
- Harrisonburg, VA radar 29 mi
- Elkton, VA radar 29 mi
- Amherst, VA radar 33 mi
- Shenandoah, VA radar 34 mi