Franktown, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Franktown, Northampton County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Franktown?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 37 days in the Northampton forecast zone and Northampton County — the most common reported hazard around Franktown, mostly in June and May. Next come coastal flooding (35 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (23 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 37 | Jun 2025 | Jul 24, 2014 · 3 deaths · $750,000 damage |
| Coastal flooding | 35 | Oct 2025 | Nov 12, 2009 · $1.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 23 | Feb 2026 | Jan 10, 2025 · $1,000 damage |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 12 | Sep 2023 | Sep 15, 1999 · $4.7 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 8 | Sep 2025 | — |
| High winds | 7 | Feb 2026 | Sep 1, 2006 · $5.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 5 | Nov 2020 | Oct 8, 2016 · $500,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 4 | Jun 2025 | — |
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 Northampton forecast zone and Northampton County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Franktown get?
A normal year brings about 6.6 inches of snow to Franktown, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Painter 2 W weather station 8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (3.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 3.4 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 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 Franktown?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KAKQ (Wakefield, VA), about 71 miles west-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 Franktown | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 71 mi west-southwest | 5,800 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDOX Dover AFB, DE | 96 mi north-northeast | 9,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 135 mi northwest | 15,400 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 Franktown
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 16 tornadoes within 25 miles of Franktown, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F2 on October 2, 1973, which touched down about 17 miles north-northeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on July 24, 2014, which passed about 13 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 17 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 1 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.00-inch hail on June 30, 1957.
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 Franktown'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.
Franktown radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Franktown, VA?
KAKQ (Wakefield, VA), about 71 miles west-southwest. KDOX (Dover AFB, DE) is 96 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Franktown?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Franktown the lowest scan from KAKQ is about 5,800 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Franktown 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 Franktown, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Exmore, VA radar 4 mi
- Cape Charles, VA radar 17 mi
- Onancock, VA radar 18 mi
- Kilmarnock, VA radar 32 mi
- Poquoson, VA radar 34 mi
- Hampton, VA radar 38 mi
- Norfolk, VA radar 43 mi
- Chincoteague, VA radar 43 mi
- Newport News, VA radar 45 mi
- Williamsburg, VA radar 48 mi