Sandston, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Sandston, Henrico County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Sandston?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 116 days in the Eastern Henrico forecast zone and Henrico County — the most common reported hazard around Sandston, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (37 days) and lightning casualties & damage (11 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 116 | Jun 2026 | May 5, 2017 · 1 death · $10,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 37 | Jun 2026 | Aug 30, 2004 · 1 death · $2.0 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 11 | Jun 2025 | Jun 24, 1996 · $500,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 9 | Feb 2025 | Feb 18, 2021 · $30,000 damage |
| Flooding | 6 | Oct 2018 | Sep 8, 1996 · 1 death · $5,000 damage |
| High winds | 2 | Oct 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 Eastern Henrico forecast zone and Henrico County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Sandston get?
A normal year brings about 8.8 inches of snow to Sandston, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Richmond Intl Ap weather station in town. 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 Sandston?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KAKQ (Wakefield, VA), about 40 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 Sandston | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 40 mi south-southeast | 2,700 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 102 mi north | 9,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDOX Dover AFB, DE | 136 mi northeast | 15,600 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 Sandston
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 90 tornadoes within 25 miles of Sandston, 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 14 miles south of town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on April 19, 2019, which passed about 24 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 291 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 15 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 Sandston'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.
Sandston radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Sandston, VA?
KAKQ (Wakefield, VA), about 40 miles south-southeast. KLWX (Sterling, MD) is 102 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Sandston?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Sandston the lowest scan from KAKQ is about 2,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Sandston 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 Sandston, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Richmond, VA radar 9 mi
- Hopewell, VA radar 15 mi
- Colonial Heights, VA radar 18 mi
- Ashland, VA radar 19 mi
- Petersburg, VA radar 22 mi
- West Point, VA radar 28 mi
- Waverly, VA radar 35 mi
- Tappahannock, VA radar 37 mi
- Williamsburg, VA radar 37 mi
- Bowling Green, VA radar 37 mi