Powhatan, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Powhatan, Powhatan County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Powhatan?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 73 days in the Powhatan forecast zone and Powhatan County — the most common reported hazard around Powhatan, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (50 days) and flash flooding (11 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 73 | Jun 2026 | Jun 29, 2012 · $105,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 50 | Feb 2025 | Feb 11, 2025 · $50,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 11 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 5 | Nov 2020 | — |
| Excessive heat | 4 | Jun 2025 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 3 | Feb 2021 | Feb 13, 2021 · $50,000 damage |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 1 | Sep 2003 | Sep 18, 2003 · $4.4 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | Apr 2014 | Apr 30, 2014 · $1,000 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 Powhatan forecast zone and Powhatan County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Powhatan get?
A normal year brings about 10 inches of snow to Powhatan, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Crozier weather station 9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (3.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 3.6 | 1.5 | 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 Powhatan?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KAKQ (Wakefield, VA), about 64 miles southeast. 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 Powhatan | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 64 mi southeast | 5,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 102 mi north-northeast | 9,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KRAX Raleigh/Durham, NC | 133 mi south-southwest | 15,000 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 Powhatan
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 48 tornadoes within 25 miles of Powhatan, 7 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in September and June. The strongest was an F3 on May 4, 1990, which passed about 16 miles south-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on June 16, 2022, which passed about 9 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 186 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 9 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on May 27, 2017.
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 Powhatan'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.
Powhatan radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Powhatan, VA?
KAKQ (Wakefield, VA), about 64 miles southeast. KLWX (Sterling, MD) is 102 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Powhatan?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Powhatan the lowest scan from KAKQ is about 5,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Powhatan 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 Powhatan, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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