Grottoes, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Grottoes, Rockingham County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Grottoes?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 140 days in the Rockingham forecast zone and Rockingham County — the most common reported hazard around Grottoes, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (64 days) and flooding (46 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 140 | Jun 2026 | May 3, 2024 · $100,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 64 | Jan 2026 | Feb 14, 2003 · $350,000 damage |
| Flooding | 46 | Jul 2025 | Sep 6, 1996 · $15 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 38 | Aug 2025 | Jan 19, 1996 · $7.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 28 | Aug 2021 | Jul 4, 1999 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 15 | Feb 2026 | — |
| High winds | 15 | Nov 2025 | Sep 18, 2003 · $1.0 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 10 | Dec 2022 | Feb 4, 1998 · $175,000 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 Rockingham forecast zone and Rockingham County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Grottoes get?
A normal year brings about 19 inches of snow to Grottoes, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Dale Enterprise weather station 14.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (6.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 0.6 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 6.2 | 4.5 | 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 Grottoes?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 87 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 Grottoes | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 87 mi northeast | 7,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFCX Blacksburg, VA | 117 mi southwest | 12,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 133 mi southeast | 15,000 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 Grottoes
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 34 tornadoes within 25 miles of Grottoes, 9 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and August. The strongest was an F3 on September 30, 1959, which touched down about 19 miles southeast of town and caused 11 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on April 26, 2022, which passed about 14 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 163 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 17 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 4, 2002.
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 Grottoes'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.
Grottoes radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Grottoes, VA?
KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 87 miles northeast. KFCX (Blacksburg, VA) is 117 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Grottoes?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Grottoes the lowest scan from KLWX is about 7,800 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Grottoes 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 Grottoes, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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