Fairfield, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Fairfield, Rockbridge County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Fairfield?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 117 days in the Rockbridge forecast zone and Rockbridge County — the most common reported hazard around Fairfield, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (65 days) and flash flooding (41 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 117 | Aug 2025 | Jun 29, 2012 · $750,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 65 | Jan 2026 | Mar 5, 2013 · $15,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 41 | Jun 2025 | Sep 6, 1996 · $2.8 million damage |
| High winds | 37 | Feb 2025 | Mar 2, 2018 · $100,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 18 | Nov 2018 | Dec 15, 2007 · $25,000 damage |
| Flooding | 17 | Jun 2025 | Sep 18, 2003 · $650,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 6 | Jul 2020 | Jul 16, 2010 · $50,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 3 | Dec 2022 | Mar 8, 1996 · $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 Rockbridge forecast zone and Rockbridge County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Fairfield get?
A normal year brings about 13 inches of snow to Fairfield, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Lexington weather station 11.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (4.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.1 | 3.4 | 2.9 | 4.7 | 2.3 | 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 Fairfield?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFCX (Blacksburg, VA), about 80 miles 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 Fairfield | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFCX Blacksburg, VA | 80 mi southwest | 6,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 123 mi northeast | 13,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KRLX Charleston, WV | 136 mi west-northwest | 15,500 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 Fairfield
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 15 tornadoes within 25 miles of Fairfield, 3 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and June. The strongest was an EF3 on April 15, 2018, which passed about 20 miles south-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 6, 2022, which touched down near town.
Hail: 120 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 8 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 Fairfield'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.
Fairfield radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Fairfield, VA?
KFCX (Blacksburg, VA), about 80 miles southwest. KLWX (Sterling, MD) is 123 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Fairfield?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Fairfield the lowest scan from KFCX is about 6,900 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Fairfield 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 Fairfield, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Lexington, VA radar 11 mi
- Buena Vista, VA radar 11 mi
- Glasgow, VA radar 20 mi
- Staunton, VA radar 23 mi
- Amherst, VA radar 24 mi
- Waynesboro, VA radar 24 mi
- Clifton Forge, VA radar 30 mi
- Buchanan, VA radar 34 mi
- Lynchburg, VA radar 34 mi
- Grottoes, VA radar 37 mi