Dayton, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Dayton, Rockingham County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Dayton?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 140 days in the Rockingham forecast zone and Rockingham County — the most common reported hazard around Dayton, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (64 days) and flooding (46 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 140 | Jun 2026 | May 3, 2024 · $100,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 64 | Jan 2026 | Feb 14, 2003 · $350,000 damage |
| Flooding | 46 | Jul 2025 | Sep 6, 1996 · $15 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 38 | Aug 2025 | Jan 19, 1996 · $7.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 28 | Aug 2021 | Jul 4, 1999 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 15 | Feb 2026 | — |
| High winds | 15 | Nov 2025 | Sep 18, 2003 · $1.0 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 10 | Dec 2022 | Feb 4, 1998 · $175,000 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 Rockingham forecast zone and Rockingham County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Dayton get?
A normal year brings about 19 inches of snow to Dayton, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Dale Enterprise weather station 2.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (6.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 0.6 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 6.2 | 4.5 | 0.1 | 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 Dayton?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 87 miles east-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 Dayton | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 87 mi east-northeast | 7,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFCX Blacksburg, VA | 121 mi southwest | 12,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 145 mi southeast | 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 Dayton
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 24 tornadoes within 25 miles of Dayton, 5 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and August. The strongest was an F2 on April 28, 2002, which passed about 23 miles northeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on April 26, 2022, which passed about 24 miles south of town.
Hail: 117 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 9 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on August 7, 2023.
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 Dayton'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.
Dayton radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Dayton, VA?
KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 87 miles east-northeast. KFCX (Blacksburg, VA) is 121 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Dayton?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Dayton the lowest scan from KLWX is about 7,800 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Dayton 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 Dayton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Bridgewater, VA radar 2 mi
- Harrisonburg, VA radar 4 mi
- Grottoes, VA radar 12 mi
- Broadway, VA radar 15 mi
- Timberville, VA radar 17 mi
- Elkton, VA radar 18 mi
- Shenandoah, VA radar 18 mi
- Staunton, VA radar 19 mi
- New Market, VA radar 21 mi
- Waynesboro, VA radar 24 mi