Radford, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Radford, City of Radford County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Radford?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 59 days in the Montgomery forecast zone and City of Radford County — the most common reported hazard around Radford, mostly in February and January. Next come high winds (44 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (24 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 59 | Jan 2026 | Jan 6, 1996 · $600,000 damage |
| High winds | 44 | Feb 2025 | Sep 27, 2024 · $185,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 24 | May 2024 | Aug 12, 2018 · $70,000 damage |
| Flooding | 14 | Jul 2025 | Feb 22, 2003 · 1 death · $6,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 14 | Nov 2018 | Dec 15, 2007 · $12,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 5 | Dec 2022 | Mar 8, 1996 · $3,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 2 | Aug 2018 | Aug 30, 2018 · $50,000 damage |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 1 | Sep 2003 | — |
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 Montgomery forecast zone and City of Radford County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Radford get?
A normal year brings about 22 inches of snow to Radford, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Christiansburg weather station 8.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (6.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.4 | 4.4 | 6.3 | 6.6 | 3.7 | 0.3 | 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 Radford?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFCX (Blacksburg, VA), about 17 miles east-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 Radford | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFCX Blacksburg, VA | 17 mi east-southeast | 900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KRLX Charleston, WV | 104 mi northwest | 10,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KRAX Raleigh/Durham, NC | 153 mi southeast | 18,700 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 Radford
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 11 tornadoes within 25 miles of Radford, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and April. The strongest was an EF2 on April 8, 2011, which touched down about 13 miles west-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on August 31, 2021, which touched down about 2 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 231 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 9 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.50-inch hail on April 27, 2011.
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 Radford'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.
Radford radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Radford, VA?
KFCX (Blacksburg, VA), about 17 miles east-southeast. KRLX (Charleston, WV) is 104 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Radford?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Radford the lowest scan from KFCX is about 900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Radford 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 Radford, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Dublin, VA radar 7 mi
- Christiansburg, VA radar 9 mi
- Blacksburg, VA radar 11 mi
- Pulaski, VA radar 12 mi
- Pembroke, VA radar 15 mi
- Pearisburg, VA radar 17 mi
- Narrows, VA radar 20 mi
- Hillsville, VA radar 27 mi
- Salem, VA radar 30 mi
- Wytheville, VA radar 31 mi