Chester, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Chester, Chesterfield County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Chester?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 140 days in the Eastern Chesterfield (Including Col. Heights) forecast zone and Chesterfield County — the most common reported hazard around Chester, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (50 days) and lightning casualties & damage (12 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 140 | Jun 2026 | Jun 29, 2012 · $128,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 50 | Jun 2026 | Aug 30, 2004 · 1 death · $2.0 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 12 | Sep 2025 | Jun 24, 1996 · $77,000 damage |
| Flooding | 9 | Aug 2021 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 8 | Feb 2025 | Feb 18, 2021 · $30,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 3 | Jul 2025 | May 10, 2018 · 2 deaths |
| Ice storms & sleet | 1 | Feb 2021 | Feb 13, 2021 · $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 Eastern Chesterfield (Including Col. Heights) forecast zone and Chesterfield County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Chester get?
A normal year brings about 3.5 inches of snow to Chester, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Hopewell weather station 9.3 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 Chester?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KAKQ (Wakefield, VA), about 35 miles 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 Chester | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 35 mi southeast | 2,200 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 112 mi north | 11,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KRAX Raleigh/Durham, NC | 131 mi south-southwest | 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 Chester
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 85 tornadoes within 25 miles of Chester, 18 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in September and June. The strongest was an F4 on August 6, 1993, which touched down about 8 miles southeast of town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on April 19, 2019, which passed about 22 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 283 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 14 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on May 27, 2017.
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 Chester'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.
Chester radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Chester, VA?
KAKQ (Wakefield, VA), about 35 miles southeast. KLWX (Sterling, MD) is 112 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Chester?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Chester the lowest scan from KAKQ is about 2,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Chester 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 Chester, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Colonial Heights, VA radar 7 mi
- Hopewell, VA radar 9 mi
- Petersburg, VA radar 10 mi
- Richmond, VA radar 13 mi
- Ashland, VA radar 28 mi
- Waverly, VA radar 29 mi
- Blackstone, VA radar 36 mi
- West Point, VA radar 37 mi
- Crewe, VA radar 40 mi
- Williamsburg, VA radar 40 mi