Columbia Furnace, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Columbia Furnace, Shenandoah County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Columbia Furnace?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 130 days in the Shenandoah forecast zone and Shenandoah County — the most common reported hazard around Columbia Furnace, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (63 days) and flooding (45 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 130 | Jun 2026 | Sep 29, 2016 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 63 | Jan 2026 | Feb 14, 2003 · $1.5 million damage |
| Flooding | 45 | May 2025 | Sep 6, 1996 · $27 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 44 | Jul 2025 | Jan 19, 1996 · $27 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 35 | Jun 2025 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 15 | Feb 2026 | — |
| High winds | 13 | Mar 2024 | Oct 29, 2012 · $1.8 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 9 | Dec 2022 | 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 Shenandoah forecast zone and Shenandoah County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Columbia Furnace get?
A normal year brings about 21 inches of snow to Columbia Furnace, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Edinburg weather station 5.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (7.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.1 | 5.1 | 4.8 | 7.7 | 3.3 | 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 Columbia Furnace?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 61 miles east. 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 Columbia Furnace | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 61 mi east | 4,700 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KPBZ Pittsburgh, PA | 143 mi northwest | 16,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KCCX State College, PA | 145 mi north-northeast | 17,200 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 Columbia Furnace
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 17 tornadoes within 25 miles of Columbia Furnace, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and April. The strongest was an F2 on April 28, 2002, which passed about 13 miles south of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 30, 2025, which touched down about 16 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 117 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 7 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on June 3, 2009.
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 Columbia Furnace'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.
Columbia Furnace radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Columbia Furnace, VA?
KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 61 miles east. KPBZ (Pittsburgh, PA) is 143 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Columbia Furnace?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Columbia Furnace the lowest scan from KLWX is about 4,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Columbia Furnace 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 Columbia Furnace, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Edinburg, VA radar 5 mi
- Woodstock, VA radar 5 mi
- Mount Jackson, VA radar 10 mi
- New Market, VA radar 16 mi
- Strasburg, VA radar 17 mi
- Luray, VA radar 17 mi
- Timberville, VA radar 19 mi
- Broadway, VA radar 21 mi
- Middletown, VA radar 21 mi
- Stanley, VA radar 21 mi