Charlottesville, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Charlottesville, City of Charlottesville County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Charlottesville?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 47 days in the Albemarle forecast zone and City of Charlottesville County — the most common reported hazard around Charlottesville, mostly in February and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (45 days) and excessive heat (42 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 47 | Jan 2026 | Feb 5, 2010 · $5,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 45 | Aug 2025 | Jun 29, 2012 · $50,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 42 | Aug 2021 | — |
| High winds | 14 | Mar 2018 | Sep 18, 2003 · $2.5 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 12 | Feb 2026 | Mar 11, 1998 · $5,000 damage |
| Flooding | 10 | Jul 2018 | — |
| Flash flooding | 9 | May 2025 | Mar 4, 2008 · $5,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 7 | Dec 2007 | Feb 4, 1998 · $50,000 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 Albemarle forecast zone and City of Charlottesville County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Charlottesville get?
A normal year brings about 17 inches of snow to Charlottesville, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Charlottesville 2W weather station 2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (5.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.2 | 3.2 | 3.9 | 5.9 | 3.8 | 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 Charlottesville?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 84 miles northeast. 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 Charlottesville | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 84 mi northeast | 7,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 109 mi southeast | 10,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFCX Blacksburg, VA | 120 mi southwest | 12,800 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 Charlottesville
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 45 tornadoes within 25 miles of Charlottesville, 9 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in September and May. The strongest was an F3 on September 30, 1959, which touched down about 7 miles west of town and caused 11 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on June 16, 2022, which passed about 21 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 161 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 14 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 4, 2002.
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 Charlottesville'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.
Charlottesville radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Charlottesville, VA?
KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 84 miles northeast. KAKQ (Wakefield, VA) is 109 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Charlottesville?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Charlottesville the lowest scan from KLWX is about 7,400 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Charlottesville 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 Charlottesville, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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