Charles City, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Charles City, Charles City County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Charles City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 47 days in the Charles City forecast zone and Charles City County — the most common reported hazard around Charles City, mostly in June and August. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (28 days) and flash flooding (9 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 47 | Jul 2025 | May 5, 2017 · $15,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 28 | Feb 2025 | Feb 18, 2021 · $30,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 9 | Aug 2024 | — |
| Excessive heat | 5 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 5 | Oct 2018 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 3 | Feb 2021 | Feb 13, 2021 · $50,000 damage |
| High winds | 3 | Oct 2018 | Mar 2, 2018 · $25,000 damage |
| Coastal flooding | 3 | Oct 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 Charles City forecast zone and Charles City County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Charles City get?
A normal year brings about 3.5 inches of snow to Charles City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Hopewell weather station 12.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (2.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 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 Charles City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KAKQ (Wakefield, VA), about 25 miles south. 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 Charles City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 25 mi south | 1,500 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 115 mi north-northwest | 11,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDOX Dover AFB, DE | 135 mi northeast | 15,300 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 Charles City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 77 tornadoes within 25 miles of Charles City, 18 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and April. The strongest was an F4 on August 6, 1993, which touched down about 12 miles west of town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on March 5, 2025, which touched down about 23 miles east of town.
Hail: 172 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 12 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on August 18, 2001.
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 Charles City'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.
Charles City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Charles City, VA?
KAKQ (Wakefield, VA), about 25 miles south. KLWX (Sterling, MD) is 115 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Charles City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Charles City the lowest scan from KAKQ is about 1,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Charles City 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 Charles City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Hopewell, VA radar 14 mi
- Colonial Heights, VA radar 19 mi
- West Point, VA radar 20 mi
- Williamsburg, VA radar 20 mi
- Petersburg, VA radar 21 mi
- Waverly, VA radar 22 mi
- Richmond, VA radar 26 mi
- Newport News, VA radar 35 mi
- Smithfield, VA radar 36 mi
- Ashland, VA radar 36 mi