Orange, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Orange, Orange County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Orange?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 146 days in the Orange forecast zone and Orange County — the most common reported hazard around Orange, mostly in June and August. Next come excessive heat (54 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (47 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 146 | Mar 2026 | Jun 6, 2002 · $200,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 54 | Aug 2021 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 47 | Jan 2026 | Jan 12, 1996 · $250,000 damage |
| Flooding | 40 | Jun 2025 | Sep 6, 1996 · $1.1 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 27 | Jul 2025 | Sep 6, 1996 · $580,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 13 | Feb 2026 | Mar 11, 1998 · $10,000 damage |
| High winds | 6 | Mar 2018 | Sep 18, 2003 · $1.7 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 3 | Feb 2021 | — |
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 Orange forecast zone and Orange County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Orange get?
A normal year brings about 16 inches of snow to Orange, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Piedmont Rsch Stn weather station 1.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (5.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.2 | 3.2 | 4.6 | 5.6 | 2.7 | 0.1 | 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 Orange?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 61 miles north-northeast. 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 Orange | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 61 mi north-northeast | 4,600 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 106 mi southeast | 10,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFCX Blacksburg, VA | 145 mi southwest | 17,300 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 Orange
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 63 tornadoes within 25 miles of Orange, 14 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in September and May. The strongest was an F4 on September 24, 2001, which passed about 23 miles north-northeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 26, 2024, which passed about 22 miles north of town.
Hail: 169 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 12 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 4, 1996.
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 Orange'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.
Orange radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Orange, VA?
KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 61 miles north-northeast. KAKQ (Wakefield, VA) is 106 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Orange?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Orange the lowest scan from KLWX is about 4,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Orange 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 Orange, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Gordonsville, VA radar 9 mi
- Culpeper, VA radar 17 mi
- Louisa, VA radar 17 mi
- Charlottesville, VA radar 25 mi
- Elkton, VA radar 29 mi
- Stanley, VA radar 31 mi
- Shenandoah, VA radar 32 mi
- Fredericksburg, VA radar 34 mi
- Luray, VA radar 34 mi
- Warrenton, VA radar 37 mi