Rio, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Rio, Albemarle County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Rio?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 220 days in the Albemarle forecast zone and Albemarle County — the most common reported hazard around Rio, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (61 days) and flooding (57 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 220 | Jun 2026 | Jun 29, 2012 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 61 | Jul 2025 | May 30, 2018 · 2 deaths · $20,000 damage |
| Flooding | 57 | Sep 2024 | Sep 29, 2024 · $20,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 47 | Jan 2026 | Feb 5, 2010 · $5,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 42 | Aug 2021 | — |
| High winds | 14 | Mar 2018 | Sep 18, 2003 · $2.5 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 12 | Feb 2026 | Mar 11, 1998 · $5,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 9 | Aug 2021 | Jun 16, 2008 · $10,000 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 Albemarle forecast zone and Albemarle County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Rio get?
A normal year brings about 17 inches of snow to Rio, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Charlottesville 2W weather station 4.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (5.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.2 | 3.2 | 3.9 | 5.9 | 3.8 | 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 Rio?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 82 miles northeast. 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 Rio | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 82 mi northeast | 7,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 110 mi southeast | 11,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFCX Blacksburg, VA | 123 mi southwest | 13,200 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 Rio
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 51 tornadoes within 25 miles of Rio, 11 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in September and May. The strongest was an F3 on September 30, 1959, which touched down about 8 miles west-southwest of town and caused 11 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on June 16, 2022, which passed about 22 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 177 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 13 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 4, 2002.
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 Rio'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.
Rio radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Rio, VA?
KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 82 miles northeast. KAKQ (Wakefield, VA) is 110 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Rio?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Rio the lowest scan from KLWX is about 7,100 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Rio 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 Rio, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Charlottesville, VA radar 3 mi
- Gordonsville, VA radar 16 mi
- Orange, VA radar 23 mi
- Grottoes, VA radar 23 mi
- Waynesboro, VA radar 23 mi
- Elkton, VA radar 24 mi
- Louisa, VA radar 26 mi
- Shenandoah, VA radar 29 mi
- Staunton, VA radar 32 mi
- Harrisonburg, VA radar 33 mi