Riverdale, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Riverdale, Halifax County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Riverdale?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 211 days in the Halifax forecast zone and Halifax County — the most common reported hazard around Riverdale, mostly in July and June. Next come flooding (102 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (39 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 211 | Jun 2026 | May 9, 2003 · $300,000 damage |
| Flooding | 102 | May 2026 | Sep 3, 1996 · $10 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 39 | Jan 2026 | Feb 12, 2014 · 1 death · $40,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 38 | May 2026 | Sep 6, 1996 · $8.0 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 16 | Apr 2023 | Jun 5, 2007 · $98,000 damage |
| High winds | 15 | Feb 2025 | Sep 15, 1999 · 1 death · $25,000 damage |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 3 | Oct 2020 | Oct 29, 2020 · $10,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 2 | Dec 1998 | Feb 2, 1996 · $150,000 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 Halifax forecast zone and Halifax County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Riverdale get?
A normal year brings about 5.5 inches of snow to Riverdale, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the S Boston weather station 1.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (3.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 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 Riverdale?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRAX (Raleigh/Durham, NC), about 73 miles south-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 Riverdale | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRAX Raleigh/Durham, NC | 73 mi south-southeast | 6,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFCX Blacksburg, VA | 80 mi west-northwest | 6,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 106 mi east-northeast | 10,600 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 Riverdale
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 37 tornadoes within 25 miles of Riverdale, 10 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in October and July. The strongest was an F3 on March 24, 1969, which touched down about 6 miles east-southeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on September 4, 2025, which touched down about 3 miles south of town.
Hail: 187 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 19 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on September 28, 2016.
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 Riverdale'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.
Riverdale radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Riverdale, VA?
KRAX (Raleigh/Durham, NC), about 73 miles south-southeast. KFCX (Blacksburg, VA) is 80 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Riverdale?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Riverdale the lowest scan from KRAX is about 6,100 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Riverdale 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 Riverdale, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- South Boston, VA radar 3 mi
- Halifax, VA radar 6 mi
- Clarksville, VA radar 19 mi
- Chase City, VA radar 25 mi
- Brookneal, VA radar 26 mi
- Danville, VA radar 29 mi
- Chatham, VA radar 30 mi
- Gretna, VA radar 32 mi
- Hurt, VA radar 37 mi
- Altavista, VA radar 38 mi