Richmond, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Richmond, City of Richmond County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Richmond?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 43 days in the Western Henrico (Including the City of Richmond) forecast zone and City of Richmond County — the most common reported hazard around Richmond, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (40 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (11 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 43 | Jun 2026 | Sep 7, 2023 · $20,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 40 | Jun 2026 | Aug 30, 2004 · 3 deaths · $20 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 11 | Feb 2025 | Feb 18, 2021 · $30,000 damage |
| Flooding | 4 | Oct 2018 | Aug 15, 2006 · $20,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 2 | Aug 2024 | Aug 26, 2024 · $10,000 damage |
| High winds | 1 | Mar 2018 | Mar 2, 2018 · $25,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 1 | Feb 2021 | Feb 13, 2021 · $50,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 1 | Jun 2025 | — |
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 Western Henrico (Including the City of Richmond) forecast zone and City of Richmond County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Richmond get?
A normal year brings about 8.8 inches of snow to Richmond, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Richmond Intl Ap weather station 8.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (3.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 3.7 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 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 Richmond?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KAKQ (Wakefield, VA), about 46 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 Richmond | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 46 mi southeast | 3,200 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 100 mi north | 9,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KRAX Raleigh/Durham, NC | 141 mi south-southwest | 16,400 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 Richmond
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 92 tornadoes within 25 miles of Richmond, 18 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in September and June. The strongest was an F4 on August 6, 1993, which touched down about 18 miles southeast of town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on June 16, 2022, which passed about 24 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 296 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 16 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 Richmond'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.
Richmond radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Richmond, VA?
KAKQ (Wakefield, VA), about 46 miles southeast. KLWX (Sterling, MD) is 100 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Richmond?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Richmond the lowest scan from KAKQ is about 3,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Richmond 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 Richmond, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Ashland, VA radar 16 mi
- Colonial Heights, VA radar 19 mi
- Hopewell, VA radar 19 mi
- Petersburg, VA radar 23 mi
- Bowling Green, VA radar 37 mi
- West Point, VA radar 37 mi
- Waverly, VA radar 40 mi
- Blackstone, VA radar 42 mi
- Tappahannock, VA radar 42 mi
- Crewe, VA radar 43 mi