Birch River, WV Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Birch River, Nicholas County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Birch River?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 56 days in the Northwest Nicholas forecast zone and Nicholas County — the most common reported hazard around Birch River, mostly in June and May. Next come flash flooding (27 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (22 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 56 | Jun 2026 | Jun 29, 2012 · $2.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 27 | Jul 2025 | Jun 23, 2016 · $22 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 22 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 11 | Feb 2025 | Jun 23, 2016 · $4.0 million damage |
| High winds | 3 | Jan 2024 | Jan 12, 2024 · $5,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 2 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | May 1998 | May 20, 1998 · $50,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 1 | Nov 1999 | — |
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 Northwest Nicholas forecast zone and Nicholas County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Birch River get?
A normal year brings about 17 inches of snow to Birch River, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Gassaway weather station 11.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (5.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.8 | 3.5 | 5.4 | 4.1 | 3.3 | 0.2 | 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 Birch River?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRLX (Charleston, WV), about 54 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 Birch River | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRLX Charleston, WV | 54 mi west-southwest | 4,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KFCX Blacksburg, VA | 105 mi south-southeast | 10,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KPBZ Pittsburgh, PA | 144 mi north-northeast | 16,900 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 Birch River
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 6 tornadoes within 25 miles of Birch River. Most came in June and April. The strongest was an F1 on March 14, 1967, which touched down about 20 miles south of town. The most recent was an EF1 on June 21, 2016, which passed about 21 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 83 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 6 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on June 7, 1980.
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 Birch River'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.
Birch River radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Birch River, WV?
KRLX (Charleston, WV), about 54 miles west-southwest. KFCX (Blacksburg, VA) is 105 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Birch River?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Birch River the lowest scan from KRLX is about 4,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Birch River 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 Birch River, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Summersville, WV radar 15 mi
- Richwood, WV radar 22 mi
- Glenville, WV radar 31 mi
- Ansted, WV radar 31 mi
- Fayetteville, WV radar 36 mi
- Rainelle, WV radar 36 mi
- Montgomery, WV radar 38 mi
- Spencer, WV radar 39 mi
- Weston, WV radar 41 mi
- Oak Hill, WV radar 42 mi