Castlewood, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Castlewood, Russell County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Castlewood?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 105 days in the Russell forecast zone and Russell County — the most common reported hazard around Castlewood, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (62 days) and flash flooding (17 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 105 | May 2025 | Aug 9, 2000 · $50,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 62 | Mar 2026 | Dec 18, 2009 · $435,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 17 | Jul 2025 | Jun 8, 2004 · $200,000 damage |
| Flooding | 14 | Feb 2025 | Feb 6, 2020 · $691,000 damage |
| High winds | 12 | Sep 2024 | Feb 26, 2013 · $20,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Mar 2014 | Dec 16, 2010 · $20,000 damage |
| Debris flows | 1 | Jun 2025 | — |
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 Russell forecast zone and Russell County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Castlewood get?
A normal year brings about 38 inches of snow to Castlewood, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Nora 4 Sse weather station 9.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (11.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | 2.1 | 8.8 | 11.2 | 8.7 | 5.9 | 0.5 | 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 Castlewood?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KJKL (Jackson, KY), about 74 miles 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 Castlewood | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KJKL Jackson, KY | 74 mi northwest | 6,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMRX Knoxville, TN | 79 mi southwest | 6,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KRLX Charleston, WV | 104 mi north-northeast | 10,200 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 Castlewood
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 22 tornadoes within 25 miles of Castlewood, 5 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an EF3 on April 27, 2011, which passed about 25 miles southeast of town and caused 3 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on February 29, 2012, which touched down about 18 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 104 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 5 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on April 27, 2011.
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 Castlewood'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.
Castlewood radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Castlewood, VA?
KJKL (Jackson, KY), about 74 miles northwest. KMRX (Knoxville, TN) is 79 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Castlewood?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Castlewood the lowest scan from KJKL is about 6,200 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Castlewood 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 Castlewood, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Coeburn, VA radar 11 mi
- Lebanon, VA radar 12 mi
- Wise, VA radar 17 mi
- Norton, VA radar 19 mi
- Bristol, VA radar 20 mi
- Honaker, VA radar 20 mi
- Clintwood, VA radar 21 mi
- Abingdon, VA radar 22 mi
- Gate City, VA radar 23 mi
- Weber City, VA radar 23 mi