Alexandria, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Alexandria, City of Alexandria County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Alexandria?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged dangerous heat on 66 days in the Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria forecast zone and City of Alexandria County — the most common reported hazard around Alexandria, mostly in July and August. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (55 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (42 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excessive heat | 66 | Jun 2025 | Jun 8, 2008 · 1 death |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 55 | Jun 2026 | Jul 29, 2023 · $10 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 42 | Jan 2026 | Feb 14, 2003 · $400,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 25 | Jul 2025 | Jun 20, 2015 · $50,000 damage |
| Coastal flooding | 24 | Sep 2024 | Feb 17, 1998 · $2,000 damage |
| Flooding | 20 | Aug 2022 | Sep 7, 1996 · $500,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 15 | Feb 2026 | — |
| High winds | 14 | Feb 2026 | Oct 29, 2012 · $4.5 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 Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria forecast zone and City of Alexandria County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Alexandria get?
A normal year brings about 14 inches of snow to Alexandria, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Washington Reagan Ap weather station 3.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (5.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 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 Alexandria?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 24 miles west-northwest. 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 Alexandria | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 24 mi west-northwest | 1,400 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KDOX Dover AFB, DE | 89 mi east | 8,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 127 mi south | 13,900 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 Alexandria
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 109 tornadoes within 25 miles of Alexandria, 17 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and April. The strongest was an F4 on April 28, 2002, which passed about 19 miles south of town and caused 3 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on June 5, 2024, which passed about 22 miles north of town.
Hail: 488 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 30 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.00-inch hail on July 2, 1968.
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 Alexandria'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.
Alexandria radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Alexandria, VA?
KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 24 miles west-northwest. KDOX (Dover AFB, DE) is 89 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Alexandria?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Alexandria the lowest scan from KLWX is about 1,400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Alexandria 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 Alexandria, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Falls Church, VA radar 7 mi
- Vienna, VA radar 11 mi
- Fairfax, VA radar 12 mi
- Occoquan, VA radar 14 mi
- Herndon, VA radar 19 mi
- Manassas Park, VA radar 20 mi
- Dumfries, VA radar 22 mi
- Manassas, VA radar 22 mi
- Haymarket, VA radar 30 mi
- Leesburg, VA radar 32 mi