Martinsville, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Martinsville, City of Martinsville County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Martinsville?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 45 days in the Henry forecast zone and City of Martinsville County — the most common reported hazard around Martinsville, mostly in February and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (45 days) and high winds (22 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 45 | Jan 2026 | Jan 17, 2018 · 1 death |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 45 | Jul 2025 | Jun 10, 2011 · $1.5 million damage |
| High winds | 22 | Mar 2025 | Mar 2, 2018 · $100,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 16 | Sep 2024 | May 18, 2018 · $800,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Feb 2008 | Feb 2, 1996 · $50,000 damage |
| Flooding | 5 | Jan 2024 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 4 | May 2024 | May 1, 1998 · $20,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 2 | Mar 1996 | Mar 8, 1996 · $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 Henry forecast zone and City of Martinsville County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Martinsville get?
A normal year brings about 9.4 inches of snow to Martinsville, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Martinsville Fltr Plt weather station 1.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (3.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 3.3 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 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 Martinsville?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFCX (Blacksburg, VA), about 33 miles northwest. 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 Martinsville | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFCX Blacksburg, VA | 33 mi northwest | 2,000 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KRAX Raleigh/Durham, NC | 104 mi southeast | 10,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KRLX Charleston, WV | 152 mi northwest | 18,500 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 Martinsville
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 32 tornadoes within 25 miles of Martinsville, 7 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and September. The strongest was an F3 on March 20, 1998, which passed about 12 miles south-southeast of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF2 on September 27, 2024, which passed about 22 miles east-northeast of town.
Hail: 274 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 14 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 4, 1993.
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 Martinsville'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.
Martinsville radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Martinsville, VA?
KFCX (Blacksburg, VA), about 33 miles northwest. KRAX (Raleigh/Durham, NC) is 104 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Martinsville?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Martinsville the lowest scan from KFCX is about 2,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Martinsville 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 Martinsville, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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