McLean, VA Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for McLean, Fairfax County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for McLeanWhat TALON shows

What weather hits McLean?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 244 days in the Fairfax forecast zone and Fairfax County — the most common reported hazard around McLean, mostly in July and June. Next come flooding (113 days) and flash flooding (86 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds244Jun 2026May 16, 2025 · 1 death · $250,000 damage
Flooding113Mar 2026Jan 19, 1996 · $2.0 million damage
Flash flooding86Aug 2025Sep 8, 2011 · 1 death
Excessive heat62Jul 2024—
Heavy snow & winter storms50Jan 2026Jan 25, 2004 · 1 death
Extreme cold & wind chill17Feb 2026Jan 27, 2000 · 1 death
High winds16Feb 2025Oct 29, 2012 · $630,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage15Jul 2008Apr 28, 2002 · $1.2 million 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 Fairfax forecast zone and Fairfax County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

How much snow does McLean get?

A normal year brings about 5.8 inches of snow to McLean, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Dalecarlia Rsvr weather station 4.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (2.9 in).

OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMay
0.00.00.82.91.40.70.00.0

Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.

Which radars cover McLean?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 16 miles west. 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over McLeanView
KLWX
Sterling, MD		16 mi west900 ftExcellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KDOX
Dover AFB, DE		95 mi east8,800 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KAKQ
Wakefield, VA		136 mi south15,500 ftLimited — 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 McLean

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 110 tornadoes within 25 miles of McLean, 14 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F3 on September 24, 2001, which passed about 11 miles east of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on June 5, 2024, which passed about 16 miles north-northwest of town.

Hail: 506 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 29 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.00-inch hail on July 2, 1968.

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 McLean'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.

McLean radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to McLean, VA?

KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 16 miles west. KDOX (Dover AFB, DE) is 95 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in McLean?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over McLean the lowest scan from KLWX is about 900 ft up.

Is TALON's radar for McLean 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 McLean, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

Radar for nearby towns

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