Ridgeway, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Ridgeway, Henry County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Ridgeway?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 205 days in the Henry forecast zone and Henry County — the most common reported hazard around Ridgeway, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (45 days) and flash flooding (43 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 205 | Jun 2026 | Apr 5, 2011 · $1.8 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 45 | Jan 2026 | Jan 17, 2018 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 43 | Jan 2024 | Jun 16, 2004 · 2 deaths |
| High winds | 22 | Mar 2025 | Mar 2, 2018 · $100,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 16 | Aug 2022 | Jul 16, 1997 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 10 | Jan 2024 | Jan 9, 2024 · $1,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Feb 2008 | Feb 2, 1996 · $50,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 2 | Mar 1996 | Mar 8, 1996 · $20,000 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 Henry forecast zone and Henry County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Ridgeway get?
A normal year brings about 9.4 inches of snow to Ridgeway, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Martinsville Fltr Plt weather station 8.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (3.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 3.3 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 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 Ridgeway?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFCX (Blacksburg, VA), about 38 miles northwest. 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 Ridgeway | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFCX Blacksburg, VA | 38 mi northwest | 2,500 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KRAX Raleigh/Durham, NC | 99 mi southeast | 9,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KRLX Charleston, WV | 158 mi northwest | 19,700 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 Ridgeway
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 35 tornadoes within 25 miles of Ridgeway, 8 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and September. The strongest was an F3 on March 20, 1998, which passed about 5 miles southeast of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF2 on September 27, 2024, which passed about 24 miles east-northeast of town.
Hail: 269 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 12 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on June 7, 1955.
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 Ridgeway'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.
Ridgeway radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Ridgeway, VA?
KFCX (Blacksburg, VA), about 38 miles northwest. KRAX (Raleigh/Durham, NC) is 99 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Ridgeway?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Ridgeway the lowest scan from KFCX is about 2,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Ridgeway 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 Ridgeway, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Martinsville, VA radar 7 mi
- Stuart, VA radar 23 mi
- Danville, VA radar 25 mi
- Rocky Mount, VA radar 29 mi
- Chatham, VA radar 30 mi
- Gretna, VA radar 38 mi
- Hurt, VA radar 47 mi
- Vinton, VA radar 48 mi
- Roanoke, VA radar 49 mi
- Christiansburg, VA radar 49 mi