Pennington Gap, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Pennington Gap, Lee County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Pennington Gap?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 112 days in the Lee forecast zone and Lee County — the most common reported hazard around Pennington Gap, mostly in July and May. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (62 days) and flash flooding (12 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 112 | Jun 2026 | Aug 9, 2000 · $37,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 62 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 12 | Feb 2025 | Feb 16, 2003 · $50,000 damage |
| Flooding | 10 | Feb 2025 | Mar 17, 2002 · $1.0 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Mar 2014 | Dec 16, 2010 · $20,000 damage |
| High winds | 3 | Sep 2024 | Dec 9, 2009 · $25,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 1 | Mar 2015 | — |
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 Lee forecast zone and Lee County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Pennington Gap get?
A normal year brings about 9.3 inches of snow to Pennington Gap, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Pennington Gap weather station 1.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (3.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 3.5 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 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 Pennington Gap?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMRX (Knoxville, TN), about 46 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 Pennington Gap | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMRX Knoxville, TN | 46 mi south-southwest | 3,100 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KJKL Jackson, KY | 60 mi north-northwest | 4,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KRLX Charleston, WV | 129 mi north-northeast | 14,300 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 Pennington Gap
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 21 tornadoes within 25 miles of Pennington Gap, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F2 on March 5, 1955, which passed about 22 miles south-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on September 24, 2024, which passed about 14 miles south of town.
Hail: 126 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 14 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.00-inch hail on April 23, 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 Pennington Gap'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.
Pennington Gap radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Pennington Gap, VA?
KMRX (Knoxville, TN), about 46 miles south-southwest. KJKL (Jackson, KY) is 60 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Pennington Gap?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Pennington Gap the lowest scan from KMRX is about 3,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Pennington Gap 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 Pennington Gap, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Norton, VA radar 26 mi
- Gate City, VA radar 26 mi
- Weber City, VA radar 28 mi
- Wise, VA radar 29 mi
- Coeburn, VA radar 34 mi
- Clintwood, VA radar 42 mi
- Bristol, VA radar 50 mi
- Lebanon, VA radar 54 mi