The University of Virginia's College at Wise, VA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for The University of Virginia's College at Wise, Wise County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits The University of Virginia's College at Wise?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 103 days in the Wise forecast zone and Wise County — the most common reported hazard around The University of Virginia's College at Wise, mostly in June and May. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (81 days) and flash flooding (19 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 103 | Mar 2026 | Nov 9, 2000 · $43,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 81 | Mar 2026 | Dec 18, 2009 · $406,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 19 | Jun 2026 | Mar 17, 2002 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 12 | Jul 2024 | Feb 14, 2003 · $800,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Mar 2015 | — |
| High winds | 6 | Sep 2024 | Dec 9, 2009 · $25,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 1 | Mar 2015 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 1 | Dec 2022 | — |
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 Wise forecast zone and Wise County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does The University of Virginia's College at Wise get?
A normal year brings about 47 inches of snow to The University of Virginia's College at Wise, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Wise 1Se weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually January (12.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.9 | 1.9 | 9.6 | 12.8 | 11.6 | 8.6 | 1.7 | 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 The University of Virginia's College at Wise?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KJKL (Jackson, KY), about 60 miles northwest. 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 The University of Virginia's College at Wise | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KJKL Jackson, KY | 60 mi northwest | 4,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMRX Knoxville, TN | 73 mi southwest | 6,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KRLX Charleston, WV | 103 mi north-northeast | 10,100 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 The University of Virginia's College at Wise
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 14 tornadoes within 25 miles of The University of Virginia's College at Wise, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an EF2 on May 8, 2009, which touched down about 7 miles north of town. The most recent was an EF1 on May 16, 2023, which touched down about 22 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 110 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 8 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on July 27, 2014.
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 The University of Virginia's College at Wise'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.
The University of Virginia's College at Wise radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to The University of Virginia's College at Wise, VA?
KJKL (Jackson, KY), about 60 miles northwest. KMRX (Knoxville, TN) is 73 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in The University of Virginia's College at Wise?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over The University of Virginia's College at Wise the lowest scan from KJKL is about 4,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for The University of Virginia's College at Wise 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 The University of Virginia's College at Wise, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Wise, VA radar 1 mi
- Norton, VA radar 5 mi
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- Pennington Gap, VA radar 30 mi