Laurel, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Laurel, Henrico County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Laurel?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 116 days in the Western Henrico (Including the City of Richmond) forecast zone and Henrico County — the most common reported hazard around Laurel, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (37 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (11 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 116 | Jun 2026 | May 5, 2017 · 1 death · $10,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 37 | Jun 2026 | Aug 30, 2004 · 1 death · $2.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 11 | Feb 2025 | Feb 18, 2021 · $30,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 11 | Jun 2025 | Jun 24, 1996 · $500,000 damage |
| Flooding | 6 | Oct 2018 | Sep 8, 1996 · 1 death · $5,000 damage |
| High winds | 1 | Mar 2018 | Mar 2, 2018 · $25,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 1 | Feb 2021 | Feb 13, 2021 · $50,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 1 | 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 Western Henrico (Including the City of Richmond) forecast zone and Henrico County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Laurel get?
A normal year brings about 15 inches of snow to Laurel, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Ashland weather station 8.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (5.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 5.9 | 4.0 | 1.8 | 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 Laurel?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KAKQ (Wakefield, VA), about 53 miles south-southeast. 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 Laurel | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 53 mi south-southeast | 3,800 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 93 mi north | 8,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDOX Dover AFB, DE | 139 mi northeast | 16,100 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 Laurel
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 81 tornadoes within 25 miles of Laurel, 11 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in September and June. The strongest was an F3 on April 1, 1998, which passed about 17 miles north of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on August 8, 2024, which touched down about 23 miles north of town.
Hail: 260 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 15 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on May 27, 2017.
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 Laurel'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.
Laurel radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Laurel, VA?
KAKQ (Wakefield, VA), about 53 miles south-southeast. KLWX (Sterling, MD) is 93 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Laurel?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Laurel the lowest scan from KAKQ is about 3,800 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Laurel 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 Laurel, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Richmond, VA radar 7 mi
- Ashland, VA radar 9 mi
- Hopewell, VA radar 26 mi
- Colonial Heights, VA radar 27 mi
- Bowling Green, VA radar 30 mi
- Petersburg, VA radar 30 mi
- Louisa, VA radar 38 mi
- West Point, VA radar 39 mi
- Tappahannock, VA radar 40 mi
- Fredericksburg, VA radar 46 mi