Arlington, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Arlington, Arlington County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Arlington?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 97 days in the Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria forecast zone and Arlington County — the most common reported hazard around Arlington, mostly in July and June. Next come excessive heat (66 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (42 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 97 | Jun 2026 | Jul 29, 2023 · $10 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 66 | Jun 2025 | Jun 8, 2008 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 42 | Jan 2026 | Feb 14, 2003 · $400,000 damage |
| Coastal flooding | 22 | Sep 2024 | — |
| Flash flooding | 20 | Jun 2025 | Jul 22, 2003 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 18 | Jul 2023 | 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 Arlington County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Arlington get?
A normal year brings about 14 inches of snow to Arlington, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Washington Reagan Ap weather station 4.1 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 Arlington?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 22 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 Arlington | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 22 mi west-northwest | 1,200 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KDOX Dover AFB, DE | 89 mi east | 8,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 131 mi south | 14,600 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 Arlington
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 106 tornadoes within 25 miles of Arlington, 14 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and April. The strongest was an F4 on April 28, 2002, which passed about 23 miles south of town and caused 3 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on June 18, 2025, which touched down about 25 miles east-northeast of town.
Hail: 511 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 Arlington'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.
Arlington radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Arlington, VA?
KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 22 miles west-northwest. KDOX (Dover AFB, DE) is 89 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Arlington?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Arlington the lowest scan from KLWX is about 1,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Arlington 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 Arlington, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Falls Church, VA radar 4 mi
- Alexandria, VA radar 4 mi
- Vienna, VA radar 9 mi
- Fairfax, VA radar 11 mi
- Occoquan, VA radar 16 mi
- Herndon, VA radar 17 mi
- Manassas Park, VA radar 20 mi
- Manassas, VA radar 22 mi
- Dumfries, VA radar 25 mi
- Haymarket, VA radar 29 mi