Covington, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Covington, City of Covington County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Covington?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 54 days in the Alleghany forecast zone and City of Covington County — the most common reported hazard around Covington, mostly in February and January. Next come high winds (41 days) and ice storms & sleet (13 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 54 | Jan 2026 | Feb 5, 2010 · $50,000 damage |
| High winds | 41 | Apr 2025 | Oct 20, 1997 · 1 death |
| Ice storms & sleet | 13 | Nov 2018 | Dec 15, 2007 · $10,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 13 | Jul 2023 | Jun 29, 2012 · $500,000 damage |
| Flooding | 4 | Sep 2018 | Sep 19, 2003 · $2,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 4 | Jun 2020 | Jun 23, 2016 · $3.0 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 3 | Jan 2014 | Mar 8, 1996 · $2,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 2 | Apr 2012 | Apr 7, 2012 · $2.5 million 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 Alleghany forecast zone and City of Covington County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Covington get?
A normal year brings about 10 inches of snow to Covington, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Covington Fltr Plt weather station 2.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (3.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3.3 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 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 Covington?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFCX (Blacksburg, VA), about 55 miles south-southwest. 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 Covington | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFCX Blacksburg, VA | 55 mi south-southwest | 4,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KRLX Charleston, WV | 101 mi west-northwest | 9,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 159 mi east-northeast | 19,900 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 Covington
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 4 tornadoes within 25 miles of Covington. Most came in April and June. The strongest was an EF1 on April 15, 2018, which touched down about 17 miles south-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on August 1, 2020, which touched down about 20 miles south of town.
Hail: 91 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 2 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on May 26, 1960.
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 Covington'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.
Covington radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Covington, VA?
KFCX (Blacksburg, VA), about 55 miles south-southwest. KRLX (Charleston, WV) is 101 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Covington?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Covington the lowest scan from KFCX is about 4,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Covington 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 Covington, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Clifton Forge, VA radar 9 mi
- Buchanan, VA radar 24 mi
- Lexington, VA radar 30 mi
- Glasgow, VA radar 31 mi
- Buena Vista, VA radar 34 mi
- Salem, VA radar 34 mi
- Roanoke, VA radar 35 mi
- Vinton, VA radar 35 mi
- Bedford, VA radar 40 mi
- Blacksburg, VA radar 45 mi