Bluefield, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Bluefield, Tazewell County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Bluefield?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 88 days in the Tazewell forecast zone and Tazewell County — the most common reported hazard around Bluefield, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (62 days) and flash flooding (57 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 88 | Jul 2025 | Jul 4, 1997 · $770,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 62 | Jan 2026 | Jan 27, 1998 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 57 | Jul 2025 | Jul 8, 2001 · $15 million damage |
| High winds | 54 | Feb 2025 | Sep 27, 2024 · 1 death · $19 million damage |
| Flooding | 29 | Feb 2025 | Nov 19, 2003 · $6.1 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 7 | Jan 2026 | Mar 8, 1996 · $3,000 damage |
| Debris flows | 5 | Jul 2023 | Apr 13, 2020 · $50,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 3 | Nov 2018 | — |
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 Tazewell forecast zone and Tazewell County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Bluefield get?
A normal year brings about 40 inches of snow to Bluefield, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Bluefield weather station 3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (9.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.6 | 1.7 | 8.7 | 9.9 | 9.9 | 7.5 | 1.4 | 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 Bluefield?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFCX (Blacksburg, VA), about 57 miles east-southeast. 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 Bluefield | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFCX Blacksburg, VA | 57 mi east-southeast | 4,300 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KRLX Charleston, WV | 78 mi north-northwest | 6,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KJKL Jackson, KY | 115 mi west-northwest | 11,800 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 Bluefield
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 4 tornadoes within 25 miles of Bluefield, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F2 on April 12, 1965, which touched down about 15 miles northeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on October 7, 2014, which passed about 15 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 143 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 9 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on July 9, 1980.
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 Bluefield'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.
Bluefield radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Bluefield, VA?
KFCX (Blacksburg, VA), about 57 miles east-southeast. KRLX (Charleston, WV) is 78 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Bluefield?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Bluefield the lowest scan from KFCX is about 4,300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Bluefield 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 Bluefield, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Tazewell, VA radar 15 mi
- Wytheville, VA radar 22 mi
- Rural Retreat, VA radar 23 mi
- Narrows, VA radar 26 mi
- Cedar Bluff, VA radar 29 mi
- Marion, VA radar 31 mi
- Pearisburg, VA radar 31 mi
- Pulaski, VA radar 31 mi
- Richlands, VA radar 31 mi
- Dublin, VA radar 33 mi