Colonial Heights, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Colonial Heights, City of Colonial Heights County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Colonial Heights?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 23 days in the Eastern Chesterfield (Including Col. Heights) forecast zone and City of Colonial Heights County — the most common reported hazard around Colonial Heights, mostly in July and May. Next come flash flooding (10 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (8 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 23 | Jul 2025 | Jun 29, 2012 · $100,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 10 | May 2026 | Sep 16, 1999 · $1.2 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 8 | Feb 2025 | Feb 18, 2021 · $30,000 damage |
| Flooding | 5 | Oct 2018 | — |
| Excessive heat | 3 | Jul 2025 | May 10, 2018 · 2 deaths |
| Ice storms & sleet | 1 | Feb 2021 | Feb 13, 2021 · $50,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | Jul 2014 | Jul 24, 2014 · $2,000 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 City of Colonial Heights County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Colonial Heights get?
A normal year brings about 3.5 inches of snow to Colonial Heights, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Hopewell weather station 7.1 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 Colonial Heights?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KAKQ (Wakefield, VA), about 29 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 Colonial Heights | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 29 mi southeast | 1,700 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 119 mi north | 12,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KRAX Raleigh/Durham, NC | 126 mi south-southwest | 13,700 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 Colonial Heights
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 83 tornadoes within 25 miles of Colonial Heights, 19 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in September and July. The strongest was an F4 on August 6, 1993, which touched down about 2 miles southeast of town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on November 11, 2022, which touched down about 24 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 220 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 13 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 Colonial Heights'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.
Colonial Heights radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Colonial Heights, VA?
KAKQ (Wakefield, VA), about 29 miles southeast. KLWX (Sterling, MD) is 119 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Colonial Heights?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Colonial Heights the lowest scan from KAKQ is about 1,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Colonial Heights 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 Colonial Heights, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Petersburg, VA radar 4 mi
- Hopewell, VA radar 6 mi
- Richmond, VA radar 19 mi
- Waverly, VA radar 23 mi
- Ashland, VA radar 35 mi
- Blackstone, VA radar 36 mi
- Williamsburg, VA radar 38 mi
- West Point, VA radar 38 mi
- Emporia, VA radar 40 mi
- Crewe, VA radar 41 mi