Rivanna, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Rivanna, Albemarle County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Rivanna?
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 Rivanna, 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 Rivanna get?
A normal year brings about 16 inches of snow to Rivanna, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Monticello weather station 4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (6.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.4 | 3.6 | 6.2 | 1.3 | 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 Rivanna?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 83 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 Rivanna | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 83 mi northeast | 7,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 103 mi southeast | 10,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFCX Blacksburg, VA | 124 mi west-southwest | 13,300 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 Rivanna
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 48 tornadoes within 25 miles of Rivanna, 10 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 14 miles west-northwest of town and caused 11 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on June 16, 2022, which touched down about 24 miles east of town.
Hail: 169 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 Rivanna'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.
Rivanna radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Rivanna, VA?
KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 83 miles northeast. KAKQ (Wakefield, VA) is 103 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Rivanna?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Rivanna the lowest scan from KLWX is about 7,300 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Rivanna 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 Rivanna, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Gordonsville, VA radar 14 mi
- Louisa, VA radar 21 mi
- Orange, VA radar 23 mi
- Waynesboro, VA radar 29 mi
- Grottoes, VA radar 31 mi
- Elkton, VA radar 31 mi
- Shenandoah, VA radar 36 mi
- Culpeper, VA radar 39 mi
- Staunton, VA radar 39 mi