Lake Wilderness, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lake Wilderness, Spotsylvania County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lake Wilderness?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 148 days in the Spotsylvania forecast zone and Spotsylvania County — the most common reported hazard around Lake Wilderness, mostly in July and June. Next come excessive heat (72 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (39 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 148 | Jun 2026 | Jul 29, 2023 · $1.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 72 | Jul 2024 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 39 | Jan 2026 | Feb 14, 2003 · $75,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 24 | Jul 2025 | Sep 18, 2003 · $50,000 damage |
| Flooding | 21 | Aug 2022 | Sep 6, 1996 · $100,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 12 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 8 | Jul 2003 | Apr 18, 2002 · $75,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Feb 2021 | Jan 14, 1999 · $20,000 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 Spotsylvania forecast zone and Spotsylvania County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Lake Wilderness get?
A normal year brings about 11 inches of snow to Lake Wilderness, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Fredericksburg Sewage weather station 15 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (5.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.3 | 3.7 | 5.2 | 0.1 | 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 Lake Wilderness?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 48 miles north-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 Lake Wilderness | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 48 mi north-northeast | 3,400 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 99 mi south-southeast | 9,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDOX Dover AFB, DE | 129 mi east-northeast | 14,200 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 Lake Wilderness
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 67 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lake Wilderness, 12 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in September and July. The strongest was an F4 on September 24, 2001, which passed about 23 miles northwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on August 8, 2024, which touched down about 24 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 208 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 11 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 4, 1996.
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 Lake Wilderness'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.
Lake Wilderness radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lake Wilderness, VA?
KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 48 miles north-northeast. KAKQ (Wakefield, VA) is 99 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lake Wilderness?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lake Wilderness the lowest scan from KLWX is about 3,400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Lake Wilderness 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 Lake Wilderness, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Fredericksburg, VA radar 13 mi
- Culpeper, VA radar 19 mi
- Orange, VA radar 21 mi
- Louisa, VA radar 25 mi
- Bowling Green, VA radar 27 mi
- Gordonsville, VA radar 28 mi
- Dumfries, VA radar 28 mi
- Warrenton, VA radar 29 mi
- Manassas, VA radar 33 mi
- Haymarket, VA radar 35 mi