Newport News, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Newport News, City of Newport News County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Newport News?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 60 days in the Newport News forecast zone and City of Newport News County — the most common reported hazard around Newport News, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (25 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (7 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 60 | Jun 2026 | Feb 24, 2016 · $55,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 25 | Aug 2025 | Aug 25, 2012 · $1.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 7 | Feb 2025 | Feb 19, 2025 · $1,000 damage |
| Flooding | 7 | Nov 2020 | Oct 8, 2016 · $200,000 damage |
| Coastal flooding | 6 | Oct 2025 | Oct 8, 2016 · $10,000 damage |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 5 | Sep 2023 | Aug 4, 2020 · $150,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 4 | May 2016 | Jun 19, 2000 · $100,000 damage |
| High winds | 3 | Oct 2018 | Mar 2, 2018 · $25,000 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 Newport News forecast zone and City of Newport News County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Newport News get?
A normal year brings about 2.7 inches of snow to Newport News, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Langley Afb weather station 9.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (2.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 2.4 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 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 Newport News?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KAKQ (Wakefield, VA), about 28 miles west-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 Newport News | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 28 mi west-southwest | 1,600 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KDOX Dover AFB, DE | 135 mi north-northeast | 15,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 141 mi north-northwest | 16,500 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 Newport News
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 93 tornadoes within 25 miles of Newport News, 8 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and April. The strongest was an EF3 on April 16, 2011, which passed about 11 miles northwest of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on March 5, 2025, which touched down about 23 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 196 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 16 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on June 13, 1998.
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 Newport News'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.
Newport News radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Newport News, VA?
KAKQ (Wakefield, VA), about 28 miles west-southwest. KDOX (Dover AFB, DE) is 135 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Newport News?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Newport News the lowest scan from KAKQ is about 1,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Newport News 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 Newport News, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Smithfield, VA radar 9 mi
- Hampton, VA radar 13 mi
- Poquoson, VA radar 13 mi
- Williamsburg, VA radar 17 mi
- Portsmouth, VA radar 18 mi
- Norfolk, VA radar 19 mi
- Windsor, VA radar 22 mi
- Suffolk, VA radar 27 mi
- Chesapeake, VA radar 30 mi
- Cape Charles, VA radar 30 mi