Athens, WV Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Athens, Mercer County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Athens?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 75 days in the Mercer forecast zone and Mercer County — the most common reported hazard around Athens, mostly in February and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (62 days) and flash flooding (47 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 75 | Jan 2026 | Feb 6, 1998 · $900,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 62 | Jun 2026 | Jul 13, 2015 · $75,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 47 | Jul 2025 | Jul 8, 2001 · $3.0 million damage |
| High winds | 33 | Apr 2025 | Sep 27, 2024 · $5.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 24 | Feb 2025 | Mar 4, 2015 · $600,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 8 | Nov 2018 | Nov 14, 2018 · $5,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 7 | Jul 2022 | May 24, 1998 · $500,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 6 | Jan 2026 | Mar 8, 1996 · $5,000 damage |
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 Mercer forecast zone and Mercer County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Athens get?
A normal year brings about 24 inches of snow to Athens, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Princeton weather station 4.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (7.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.7 | 4.5 | 7.5 | 5.7 | 4.9 | 0.5 | 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 Athens?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFCX (Blacksburg, VA), about 49 miles southeast. 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 Athens | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFCX Blacksburg, VA | 49 mi southeast | 3,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KRLX Charleston, WV | 73 mi north-northwest | 6,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KJKL Jackson, KY | 127 mi west | 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 Athens
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 9 tornadoes within 25 miles of Athens, 4 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and October. The strongest was an F3 on April 4, 1974, which passed about 20 miles north-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF2 on October 7, 2014, which passed about 15 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 169 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 5 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on April 8, 2019.
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 Athens'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.
Athens radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Athens, WV?
KFCX (Blacksburg, VA), about 49 miles southeast. KRLX (Charleston, WV) is 73 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Athens?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Athens the lowest scan from KFCX is about 3,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Athens 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 Athens, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Princeton, WV radar 6 mi
- Bluefield, WV radar 15 mi
- Hinton, WV radar 19 mi
- Mullens, WV radar 23 mi
- Sophia, WV radar 24 mi
- Beckley, WV radar 26 mi
- Mabscott, WV radar 26 mi
- Welch, WV radar 32 mi
- Mount Hope, WV radar 34 mi
- Ronceverte, WV radar 37 mi