Harrisonburg, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Harrisonburg, City of Harrisonburg County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Harrisonburg?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 64 days in the Rockingham forecast zone and City of Harrisonburg County — the most common reported hazard around Harrisonburg, mostly in January and February. Next come excessive heat (28 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (24 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 64 | Jan 2026 | Feb 14, 2003 · $350,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 28 | Aug 2021 | Jul 4, 1999 · 1 death |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 24 | Jul 2025 | May 30, 2025 · $250,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 15 | Feb 2026 | — |
| High winds | 15 | Nov 2025 | Sep 18, 2003 · $1.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 14 | Aug 2021 | Sep 6, 1996 · $15 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 11 | May 2018 | Sep 5, 1999 · $10,000 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 City of Harrisonburg County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Harrisonburg get?
A normal year brings about 19 inches of snow to Harrisonburg, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Dale Enterprise weather station 3.6 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 Harrisonburg?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 84 miles east-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 Harrisonburg | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 84 mi east-northeast | 7,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFCX Blacksburg, VA | 124 mi southwest | 13,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 143 mi southeast | 16,800 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 Harrisonburg
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 25 tornadoes within 25 miles of Harrisonburg, 6 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and August. The strongest was an F2 on April 28, 2002, which passed about 20 miles north-northeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on August 6, 2020, which touched down about 15 miles south of town.
Hail: 130 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 9 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 Harrisonburg'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.
Harrisonburg radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Harrisonburg, VA?
KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 84 miles east-northeast. KFCX (Blacksburg, VA) is 124 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Harrisonburg?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Harrisonburg the lowest scan from KLWX is about 7,300 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Harrisonburg 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 Harrisonburg, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Dayton, VA radar 4 mi
- Bridgewater, VA radar 6 mi
- Grottoes, VA radar 12 mi
- Broadway, VA radar 13 mi
- Elkton, VA radar 14 mi
- Shenandoah, VA radar 14 mi
- Timberville, VA radar 15 mi
- New Market, VA radar 18 mi
- Staunton, VA radar 22 mi
- Stanley, VA radar 23 mi