Boston, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Boston, Accomack County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Boston?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 72 days in the Accomack forecast zone and Accomack County — the most common reported hazard around Boston, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (35 days) and coastal flooding (19 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 72 | Jun 2026 | Jun 26, 1997 · $15,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 35 | Feb 2026 | Feb 22, 2026 · $1,000 damage |
| Coastal flooding | 19 | Oct 2025 | Oct 28, 2012 · $6.0 million damage |
| High winds | 15 | Feb 2026 | Sep 1, 2006 · $3.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 14 | Aug 2025 | — |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 11 | Sep 2023 | Sep 15, 1999 · 1 death · $11 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 4 | Jun 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 4 | Oct 2016 | Jul 1, 2016 · 1 death |
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 Accomack forecast zone and Accomack County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Boston get?
A normal year brings about 6.6 inches of snow to Boston, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Painter 2 W weather station 1.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (3.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 3.4 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 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 Boston?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KAKQ (Wakefield, VA), about 77 miles west-southwest. 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 Boston | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 77 mi west-southwest | 6,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDOX Dover AFB, DE | 87 mi north-northeast | 7,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 130 mi northwest | 14,500 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 Boston
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 13 tornadoes within 25 miles of Boston, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F2 on October 2, 1973, which touched down about 8 miles northeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on August 4, 2015, which touched down about 23 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 13 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 1 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.00-inch hail on June 30, 1957.
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 Boston'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.
Boston radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Boston, VA?
KAKQ (Wakefield, VA), about 77 miles west-southwest. KDOX (Dover AFB, DE) is 87 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Boston?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Boston the lowest scan from KAKQ is about 6,500 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Boston 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 Boston, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Exmore, VA radar 5 mi
- Onancock, VA radar 9 mi
- Cape Charles, VA radar 26 mi
- Kilmarnock, VA radar 30 mi
- Chincoteague, VA radar 36 mi
- Poquoson, VA radar 41 mi
- Hampton, VA radar 46 mi
- Norfolk, VA radar 52 mi
- Newport News, VA radar 52 mi
- West Point, VA radar 53 mi