Southern Gateway, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Southern Gateway, Stafford County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Southern Gateway?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 116 days in the Stafford forecast zone and Stafford County — the most common reported hazard around Southern Gateway, mostly in June and July. Next come excessive heat (75 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (36 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 116 | Jun 2026 | Apr 15, 2019 · 1 death |
| Excessive heat | 75 | Jul 2024 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 36 | Jan 2026 | Dec 5, 2005 · $20,000 damage |
| Flooding | 34 | Dec 2023 | Sep 6, 1996 · $100,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 21 | Jun 2025 | Sep 8, 1996 · $40,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 16 | Feb 2026 | — |
| High winds | 5 | Apr 2023 | Jan 14, 2006 · $50,000 damage |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 4 | Aug 2020 | Sep 18, 2003 · $14 million 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 Stafford forecast zone and Stafford County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Southern Gateway get?
A normal year brings about 11 inches of snow to Southern Gateway, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Fredericksburg Sewage weather station 4.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (5.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.3 | 3.7 | 5.2 | 0.1 | 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 Southern Gateway?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 44 miles north. 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 Southern Gateway | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 44 mi north | 3,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 98 mi south-southeast | 9,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDOX Dover AFB, DE | 116 mi east-northeast | 12,100 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 Southern Gateway
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 67 tornadoes within 25 miles of Southern Gateway, 12 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in September and July. The strongest was an F4 on April 28, 2002, which passed about 23 miles northeast of town and caused 3 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on August 8, 2024, which touched down about 24 miles south of town.
Hail: 205 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 12 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.75-inch hail on August 7, 2023.
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 Southern Gateway'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.
Southern Gateway radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Southern Gateway, VA?
KLWX (Sterling, MD), about 44 miles north. KAKQ (Wakefield, VA) is 98 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Southern Gateway?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Southern Gateway the lowest scan from KLWX is about 3,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Southern Gateway 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 Southern Gateway, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Fredericksburg, VA radar 3 mi
- Dumfries, VA radar 18 mi
- Bowling Green, VA radar 22 mi
- Occoquan, VA radar 27 mi
- Manassas, VA radar 28 mi
- Colonial Beach, VA radar 28 mi
- Culpeper, VA radar 28 mi
- Manassas Park, VA radar 30 mi
- Warrenton, VA radar 30 mi
- Haymarket, VA radar 33 mi