Great Falls, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Great Falls, Fairfax County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Great Falls?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 244 days in the Fairfax forecast zone and Fairfax County — the most common reported hazard around Great Falls, mostly in July and June. Next come flooding (113 days) and flash flooding (86 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 244 | Jun 2026 | May 16, 2025 · 1 death · $250,000 damage |
| Flooding | 113 | Mar 2026 | Jan 19, 1996 · $2.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 86 | Aug 2025 | Sep 8, 2011 · 1 death |
| Excessive heat | 62 | Jul 2024 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 50 | Jan 2026 | Jan 25, 2004 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 17 | Feb 2026 | Jan 27, 2000 · 1 death |
| High winds | 16 | Feb 2025 | Oct 29, 2012 · $630,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 15 | Jul 2008 | Apr 28, 2002 · $1.2 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 Fairfax forecast zone and Fairfax County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Great Falls get?
A normal year brings about 19 inches of snow to Great Falls, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Vienna weather station 8.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (7.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.1 | 2.4 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 2.0 | 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 Great Falls?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 10 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 Great Falls | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 10 mi west-southwest | 500 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KDOX Dover AFB, DE | 101 mi east | 9,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KCCX State College, PA | 137 mi north-northwest | 15,700 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 Great Falls
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 103 tornadoes within 25 miles of Great Falls, 17 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F3 on September 24, 2001, which passed about 18 miles east-southeast of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on June 5, 2024, which touched down about 18 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 495 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 29 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 Great Falls'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.
Great Falls radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Great Falls, VA?
KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 10 miles west-southwest. KDOX (Dover AFB, DE) is 101 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Great Falls?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Great Falls the lowest scan from KLWX is about 500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Great Falls 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 Great Falls, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Herndon, VA radar 5 mi
- Vienna, VA radar 8 mi
- Fairfax, VA radar 11 mi
- Falls Church, VA radar 11 mi
- Leesburg, VA radar 15 mi
- Alexandria, VA radar 18 mi
- Manassas Park, VA radar 18 mi
- Manassas, VA radar 21 mi
- Haymarket, VA radar 23 mi
- Occoquan, VA radar 23 mi