Tappahannock, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Tappahannock, Essex County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Tappahannock?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 72 days in the Western Essex forecast zone and Essex County — the most common reported hazard around Tappahannock, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (12 days) and flooding (6 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 72 | Jun 2026 | Nov 8, 1996 · $15,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 12 | Feb 2025 | Feb 18, 2021 · $30,000 damage |
| Flooding | 6 | Oct 2018 | — |
| Flash flooding | 5 | May 2025 | Sep 16, 1999 · $215,000 damage |
| Coastal flooding | 4 | Oct 2025 | — |
| High winds | 1 | Mar 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 Western Essex forecast zone and Essex County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Tappahannock get?
A normal year brings about 12 inches of snow to Tappahannock, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Warsaw 2 Nw weather station 7.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (4.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.1 | 2.2 | 4.4 | 3.3 | 1.4 | 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 Tappahannock?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KAKQ (Wakefield, VA), about 65 miles south. 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 Tappahannock | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAKQ Wakefield, VA | 65 mi south | 5,100 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 81 mi north-northwest | 7,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDOX Dover AFB, DE | 100 mi northeast | 9,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
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 Tappahannock
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 54 tornadoes within 25 miles of Tappahannock, 8 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F3 on October 18, 1990, which passed about 20 miles south-southwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on April 3, 2024, which passed about 15 miles east of town.
Hail: 81 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 4 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on May 30, 1960.
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 Tappahannock'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.
Tappahannock radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Tappahannock, VA?
KAKQ (Wakefield, VA), about 65 miles south. KLWX (Sterling, MD) is 81 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Tappahannock?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Tappahannock the lowest scan from KAKQ is about 5,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Tappahannock 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 Tappahannock, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Warsaw, VA radar 7 mi
- West Point, VA radar 25 mi
- Colonial Beach, VA radar 25 mi
- Bowling Green, VA radar 28 mi
- Kilmarnock, VA radar 30 mi
- Ashland, VA radar 35 mi
- Richmond, VA radar 42 mi
- Fredericksburg, VA radar 43 mi
- Williamsburg, VA radar 45 mi
- Hopewell, VA radar 49 mi