McDowell, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for McDowell, Highland County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits McDowell?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged dangerous cold on 32 days in the Eastern Highland forecast zone and Highland County — the most common reported hazard around McDowell, mostly in January and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (31 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (28 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 32 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 31 | May 2025 | Apr 8, 2020 · $100,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 28 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 14 | Apr 2011 | Sep 6, 1996 · 1 death · $1.1 million damage |
| High winds | 10 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 5 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 2 | Dec 2022 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 2 | Aug 2000 | Aug 9, 2000 · $10,000 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 Eastern Highland forecast zone and Highland County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does McDowell get?
A normal year brings about 39 inches of snow to McDowell, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Mustoe 1 Sw weather station 8.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (11.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 2.2 | 7.4 | 10.2 | 11.2 | 7.2 | 0.7 | 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 McDowell?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFCX (Blacksburg, VA), about 100 miles south-southwest. 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 McDowell | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFCX Blacksburg, VA | 100 mi south-southwest | 9,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 117 mi east-northeast | 12,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KRLX Charleston, WV | 120 mi west | 12,800 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 McDowell
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 5 tornadoes within 25 miles of McDowell, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and June. The strongest was an F2 on May 4, 1990, which passed about 19 miles south-southeast of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on April 28, 2011, which passed about 19 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 72 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 3 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on August 7, 2023.
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 McDowell'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.
McDowell radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to McDowell, VA?
KFCX (Blacksburg, VA), about 100 miles south-southwest. KLWX (Sterling, MD) is 117 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in McDowell?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over McDowell the lowest scan from KFCX is about 9,700 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for McDowell 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 McDowell, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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