Manchester, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Manchester, Chesterfield County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Manchester?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 140 days in the Western Chesterfield forecast zone and Chesterfield County — the most common reported hazard around Manchester, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (50 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (12 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 140 | Jun 2026 | Jun 29, 2012 · $128,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 50 | Jun 2026 | Aug 30, 2004 · 1 death · $2.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 12 | Feb 2025 | Feb 18, 2021 · $30,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 12 | Sep 2025 | Jun 24, 1996 · $77,000 damage |
| Flooding | 9 | Aug 2021 | — |
| 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 Chesterfield forecast zone and Chesterfield County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Manchester get?
A normal year brings about 8.8 inches of snow to Manchester, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Richmond Intl Ap weather station 12.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (3.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 3.7 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 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 Manchester?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KAKQ (Wakefield, VA), about 46 miles 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 Manchester | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 46 mi southeast | 3,100 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 103 mi north | 10,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KRAX Raleigh/Durham, NC | 137 mi south-southwest | 15,600 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 Manchester
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 89 tornadoes within 25 miles of Manchester, 17 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in September and June. The strongest was an F4 on August 6, 1993, which touched down about 19 miles southeast of town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on June 16, 2022, which passed about 22 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 296 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 Manchester'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.
Manchester radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Manchester, VA?
KAKQ (Wakefield, VA), about 46 miles southeast. KLWX (Sterling, MD) is 103 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Manchester?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Manchester the lowest scan from KAKQ is about 3,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Manchester 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 Manchester, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Richmond, VA radar 5 mi
- Colonial Heights, VA radar 18 mi
- Ashland, VA radar 19 mi
- Hopewell, VA radar 19 mi
- Petersburg, VA radar 21 mi
- Blackstone, VA radar 38 mi
- Crewe, VA radar 39 mi
- Waverly, VA radar 40 mi
- Bowling Green, VA radar 40 mi
- West Point, VA radar 41 mi