Orkney Springs, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Orkney Springs, Shenandoah County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Orkney Springs?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 130 days in the Shenandoah forecast zone and Shenandoah County — the most common reported hazard around Orkney Springs, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (63 days) and flooding (45 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 130 | Jun 2026 | Sep 29, 2016 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 63 | Jan 2026 | Feb 14, 2003 · $1.5 million damage |
| Flooding | 45 | May 2025 | Sep 6, 1996 · $27 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 44 | Jul 2025 | Jan 19, 1996 · $27 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 35 | Jun 2025 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 15 | Feb 2026 | — |
| High winds | 13 | Mar 2024 | Oct 29, 2012 · $1.8 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 9 | Dec 2022 | Feb 4, 1998 · $50,000 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 Shenandoah forecast zone and Shenandoah County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Orkney Springs get?
A normal year brings about 21 inches of snow to Orkney Springs, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Edinburg weather station 12.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (7.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.1 | 5.1 | 4.8 | 7.7 | 3.3 | 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 Orkney Springs?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 73 miles east. 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 Orkney Springs | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 73 mi east | 6,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KPBZ Pittsburgh, PA | 141 mi north-northwest | 16,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFCX Blacksburg, VA | 146 mi south-southwest | 17,400 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 Orkney Springs
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 13 tornadoes within 25 miles of Orkney Springs, 3 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and June. The strongest was an F2 on April 28, 2002, which passed about 11 miles southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 30, 2025, which touched down about 21 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 96 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 4 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on June 3, 2009.
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 Orkney Springs'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.
Orkney Springs radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Orkney Springs, VA?
KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 73 miles east. KPBZ (Pittsburgh, PA) is 141 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Orkney Springs?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Orkney Springs the lowest scan from KLWX is about 6,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Orkney Springs 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 Orkney Springs, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Mount Jackson, VA radar 10 mi
- Timberville, VA radar 11 mi
- Broadway, VA radar 13 mi
- New Market, VA radar 13 mi
- Edinburg, VA radar 14 mi
- Woodstock, VA radar 17 mi
- Luray, VA radar 21 mi
- Stanley, VA radar 23 mi
- Shenandoah, VA radar 24 mi
- Harrisonburg, VA radar 25 mi