Chelsea, VT Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Chelsea, Orange County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Chelsea?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 143 days in the Orange forecast zone and Orange County — the most common reported hazard around Chelsea, mostly in March and February. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (64 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (25 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 143 | Feb 2026 | Feb 23, 2010 · $250,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 64 | Jun 2026 | Jul 21, 2010 · $450,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 25 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 19 | Jul 2024 | Aug 28, 2011 · $34 million damage |
| Flooding | 12 | Dec 2023 | Aug 28, 2011 · $6.0 million damage |
| High winds | 8 | Dec 2022 | Sep 16, 1999 · 1 death · $100,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 7 | Jun 2025 | Mar 17, 2012 · $1.0 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 6 | Jun 2012 | Jun 23, 2012 · 1 death |
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 Orange forecast zone and Orange County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Chelsea get?
A normal year brings about 89 inches of snow to Chelsea, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Chelsea 2 Nw weather station 2.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (22.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | 4.0 | 22.6 | 17.1 | 21.5 | 17.1 | 5.1 | 0.3 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Chelsea?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KCXX (Burlington, VT), about 50 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 Chelsea | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KCXX Burlington, VT | 50 mi northwest | 3,600 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KGYX Portland, ME | 109 mi east | 11,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KENX Albany, NY | 127 mi southwest | 13,800 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 Chelsea
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 7 tornadoes within 25 miles of Chelsea, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and June. The strongest was an F2 on August 11, 1966, which passed about 17 miles east of town. The most recent was an EF1 on July 16, 2024, which touched down about 18 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 81 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 3 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.50-inch hail on May 26, 2011.
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 Chelsea'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.
Chelsea radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Chelsea, VT?
KCXX (Burlington, VT), about 50 miles northwest. KGYX (Portland, ME) is 109 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Chelsea?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Chelsea the lowest scan from KCXX is about 3,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Chelsea 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 Chelsea, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Barre, VT radar 15 mi
- Montpelier, VT radar 20 mi
- Rutland, VT radar 37 mi
- Morrisville, VT radar 40 mi
- Vergennes, VT radar 42 mi
- Johnson, VT radar 46 mi
- South Burlington, VT radar 48 mi
- Essex Junction, VT radar 48 mi
- Winooski, VT radar 50 mi
- Poultney, VT radar 51 mi