Rochester, VT Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Rochester, Windsor County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Rochester?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 80 days in the Western Windsor forecast zone and Windsor County — the most common reported hazard around Rochester, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (32 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (15 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 | 15 | Feb 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 | — |
| High winds | 1 | Dec 2022 | Dec 23, 2022 · $150,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 1 | Mar 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 Windsor forecast zone and Windsor County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Rochester get?
A normal year brings about 76 inches of snow to Rochester, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Rochester weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually January (18.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 2.8 | 17.3 | 18.4 | 17.4 | 15.5 | 3.6 | 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 Rochester?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KCXX (Burlington, VT), about 48 miles north-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 Rochester | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KCXX Burlington, VT | 48 mi north-northwest | 3,300 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KENX Albany, NY | 109 mi southwest | 11,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KGYX Portland, ME | 127 mi east | 13,900 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 Rochester
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 4 tornadoes within 25 miles of Rochester. Most came in July and May. The strongest was an EF1 on March 26, 2021, which touched down about 20 miles northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on July 13, 2023, which passed about 18 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 110 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 4 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.50-inch hail on August 28, 1988.
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 Rochester'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.
Rochester radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Rochester, VT?
KCXX (Burlington, VT), about 48 miles north-northwest. KENX (Albany, NY) is 109 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Rochester?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Rochester the lowest scan from KCXX is about 3,300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Rochester 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 Rochester, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Rutland, VT radar 20 mi
- Barre, VT radar 27 mi
- Montpelier, VT radar 30 mi
- Vergennes, VT radar 30 mi
- Poultney, VT radar 33 mi
- South Burlington, VT radar 43 mi
- Essex Junction, VT radar 46 mi
- Winooski, VT radar 47 mi
- Burlington, VT radar 48 mi
- Morrisville, VT radar 49 mi