South Riding, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for South Riding, Loudoun County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits South Riding?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 252 days in the Eastern Loudoun forecast zone and Loudoun County — the most common reported hazard around South Riding, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (48 days) and flooding (46 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 252 | Jun 2026 | Jul 3, 2011 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 48 | Jun 2025 | Jan 19, 1996 · $1.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 46 | Dec 2023 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 17 | Jun 2022 | Jun 22, 2022 · $336,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 14 | Jun 2025 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 10 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 7 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 7 | Feb 2026 | — |
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 Loudoun forecast zone and Loudoun County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does South Riding get?
A normal year brings about 21 inches of snow to South Riding, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Washington Dc Dulles Ap weather station 3.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (7.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.3 | 2.8 | 6.9 | 7.0 | 3.9 | 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 South Riding?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 5 miles north-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 South Riding | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 5 mi north-northeast | 200 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KDOX Dover AFB, DE | 112 mi east | 11,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 136 mi south-southeast | 15,500 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 South Riding
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 92 tornadoes within 25 miles of South Riding, 15 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in September and April. The strongest was an F4 on September 24, 2001, which passed about 22 miles southwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on August 8, 2024, which passed about 19 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 428 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 26 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.00-inch hail on July 2, 1968.
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 South Riding'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.
South Riding radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to South Riding, VA?
KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 5 miles north-northeast. KDOX (Dover AFB, DE) is 112 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in South Riding?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over South Riding the lowest scan from KLWX is about 200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for South Riding 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 South Riding, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Haymarket, VA radar 10 mi
- Manassas Park, VA radar 11 mi
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- Fairfax, VA radar 12 mi
- Leesburg, VA radar 14 mi
- Vienna, VA radar 14 mi
- Falls Church, VA radar 18 mi
- Purcellville, VA radar 19 mi
- Warrenton, VA radar 20 mi