Falls Church, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Falls Church, City of Falls Church County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Falls Church?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged dangerous heat on 66 days in the Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria forecast zone and City of Falls Church County — the most common reported hazard around Falls Church, mostly in July and August. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (42 days) and coastal flooding (22 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excessive heat | 66 | Jun 2025 | Jun 8, 2008 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 42 | Jan 2026 | Feb 14, 2003 · $400,000 damage |
| Coastal flooding | 22 | Sep 2024 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 22 | Jul 2023 | Aug 7, 2000 · $300,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 15 | Feb 2026 | — |
| High winds | 14 | Feb 2026 | Oct 29, 2012 · $4.5 million damage |
| Flooding | 6 | Jul 2005 | Sep 7, 1996 · $500,000 damage |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 5 | Aug 2020 | Sep 18, 2003 · $4.5 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 Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria forecast zone and City of Falls Church County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Falls Church get?
A normal year brings about 5.8 inches of snow to Falls Church, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Dalecarlia Rsvr weather station 5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (2.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 2.9 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 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 Falls Church?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 18 miles west-northwest. 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 Falls Church | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 18 mi west-northwest | 1,000 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KDOX Dover AFB, DE | 93 mi east | 8,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 132 mi south | 14,700 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 Falls Church
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 108 tornadoes within 25 miles of Falls Church, 16 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and June. The strongest was an F4 on April 28, 2002, which passed about 23 miles south of town and caused 3 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on June 5, 2024, which passed about 20 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 507 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 28 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.00-inch hail on July 2, 1968.
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 Falls Church'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.
Falls Church radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Falls Church, VA?
KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 18 miles west-northwest. KDOX (Dover AFB, DE) is 93 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Falls Church?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Falls Church the lowest scan from KLWX is about 1,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Falls Church 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 Falls Church, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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