Louisa, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Louisa, Louisa County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Louisa?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 125 days in the Western Louisa forecast zone and Louisa County — the most common reported hazard around Louisa, mostly in June and August. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (13 days) and flash flooding (11 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 125 | Jun 2026 | Jun 29, 2012 · $350,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 13 | Feb 2025 | Feb 18, 2021 · $30,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 11 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 7 | Nov 2020 | — |
| 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 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | Apr 2023 | Apr 6, 2023 · 1 death |
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 Louisa forecast zone and Louisa County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Louisa get?
A normal year brings about 16 inches of snow to Louisa, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Louisa weather station 1.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (6.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.1 | 3.3 | 4.5 | 6.1 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 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 Louisa?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 72 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 Louisa | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 72 mi north-northeast | 5,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 90 mi southeast | 8,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFCX Blacksburg, VA | 142 mi west-southwest | 16,700 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 Louisa
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 52 tornadoes within 25 miles of Louisa, 8 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in September and May. The strongest was an F3 on April 1, 1998, which passed about 23 miles east-southeast of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on June 16, 2022, which touched down about 4 miles east of town.
Hail: 136 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 4 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on June 16, 2022.
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 Louisa'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.
Louisa radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Louisa, VA?
KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 72 miles north-northeast. KAKQ (Wakefield, VA) is 90 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Louisa?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Louisa the lowest scan from KLWX is about 5,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Louisa 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 Louisa, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Gordonsville, VA radar 13 mi
- Orange, VA radar 17 mi
- Charlottesville, VA radar 26 mi
- Culpeper, VA radar 31 mi
- Ashland, VA radar 34 mi
- Fredericksburg, VA radar 34 mi
- Bowling Green, VA radar 36 mi
- Elkton, VA radar 43 mi
- Richmond, VA radar 44 mi
- Shenandoah, VA radar 47 mi