Chester, VT Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Chester, Windsor County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Chester?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 80 days in the Eastern Windsor forecast zone and Windsor County — the most common reported hazard around Chester, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (32 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (11 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 80 | Jun 2026 | Jun 30, 2021 · $150,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 32 | May 2025 | Jul 10, 2023 · 1 death · $25 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 11 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 10 | Jun 2025 | Aug 28, 2011 · $23 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 7 | Jun 2007 | Jul 4, 2002 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 4 | Feb 2026 | — |
| 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 Eastern Windsor forecast zone and Windsor County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Chester get?
A normal year brings about 83 inches of snow to Chester, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Cavendish weather station 8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (21.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 | 4.5 | 16.8 | 21.2 | 18.7 | 17.1 | 4.1 | 0.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Chester?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KENX (Albany, NY), about 88 miles west-southwest. 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 Chester | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KENX Albany, NY | 88 mi west-southwest | 7,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KCXX Burlington, VT | 90 mi north-northwest | 8,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KBOX Boston, MA | 117 mi southeast | 12,300 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 Chester
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 17 tornadoes within 25 miles of Chester, 6 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and August. The strongest was an F3 on August 20, 1968, which touched down about 16 miles southwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on July 18, 2022, which touched down about 25 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 88 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 2 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.00-inch hail on May 29, 2012.
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 Chester'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.
Chester radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Chester, VT?
KENX (Albany, NY), about 88 miles west-southwest. KCXX (Burlington, VT) is 90 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Chester?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Chester the lowest scan from KENX is about 7,900 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Chester 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 Chester, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Bellows Falls, VT radar 12 mi
- Rutland, VT radar 30 mi
- Poultney, VT radar 36 mi
- North Bennington, VT radar 40 mi