Emporia, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Emporia, City of Emporia County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Emporia?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 34 days in the Greensville forecast zone and City of Emporia County — the most common reported hazard around Emporia, mostly in January and February. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (18 days) and flash flooding (7 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 34 | Feb 2026 | Jan 25, 2000 · 1 death |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 18 | May 2025 | May 11, 1996 · $25,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 7 | Jul 2024 | Sep 16, 1999 · $250,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 5 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 4 | Nov 2020 | Oct 8, 2016 · $200,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 2 | Feb 2021 | Feb 13, 2021 · $50,000 damage |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 2 | Aug 2011 | Aug 27, 2011 · $269,000 damage |
| High winds | 1 | Sep 1999 | Sep 16, 1999 · $3,000 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 Greensville forecast zone and City of Emporia County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Emporia get?
A normal year brings about 1.4 inches of snow to Emporia, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Emporia 1 Wnw weather station 1.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (0.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 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 Emporia?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KAKQ (Wakefield, VA), about 35 miles 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 Emporia | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 35 mi northeast | 2,300 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KRAX Raleigh/Durham, NC | 89 mi southwest | 8,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMHX Morehead City, NC | 138 mi south-southeast | 15,800 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 Emporia
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 52 tornadoes within 25 miles of Emporia, 9 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on November 27, 1988, which passed about 18 miles south-southeast of town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on January 4, 2023, which touched down about 14 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 88 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 9 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on May 9, 2003.
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 Emporia'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.
Emporia radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Emporia, VA?
KAKQ (Wakefield, VA), about 35 miles northeast. KRAX (Raleigh/Durham, NC) is 89 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Emporia?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Emporia the lowest scan from KAKQ is about 2,300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Emporia 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 Emporia, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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