Buffalo, WV Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Buffalo, Putnam County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Buffalo?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 127 days in the Putnam forecast zone and Putnam County — the most common reported hazard around Buffalo, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (51 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (38 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 127 | Jun 2026 | Jun 29, 2012 · $2.5 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 51 | Jun 2026 | May 26, 2018 · $3.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 38 | Jan 2026 | Oct 29, 2012 · $750,000 damage |
| Flooding | 29 | Apr 2025 | Nov 19, 2003 · $500,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 26 | Feb 2026 | Jan 6, 2014 · $300,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 21 | Jul 2011 | — |
| High winds | 12 | Apr 2023 | Mar 9, 2002 · $2,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 4 | Jul 2023 | Jul 9, 2023 · $1.0 million 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 Putnam forecast zone and Putnam County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Buffalo get?
A normal year brings about 11 inches of snow to Buffalo, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Winfield Locks weather station 6.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (4.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 4.1 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 0.0 | 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 Buffalo?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRLX (Charleston, WV), about 25 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 Buffalo | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRLX Charleston, WV | 25 mi southeast | 1,500 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KJKL Jackson, KY | 101 mi southwest | 9,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KILN Wilmington, OH | 114 mi west-northwest | 11,700 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 Buffalo
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 30 tornadoes within 25 miles of Buffalo, 5 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and April. The strongest was an F5 on April 23, 1968, which passed about 19 miles northwest of town and caused 7 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on May 26, 2024, which touched down about 7 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 221 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 17 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.25-inch hail on June 21, 2016.
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 Buffalo'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.
Buffalo radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Buffalo, WV?
KRLX (Charleston, WV), about 25 miles southeast. KJKL (Jackson, KY) is 101 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Buffalo?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Buffalo the lowest scan from KRLX is about 1,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Buffalo 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 Buffalo, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Eleanor, WV radar 6 mi
- Winfield, WV radar 8 mi
- Hurricane, WV radar 13 mi
- Milton, WV radar 15 mi
- Nitro, WV radar 17 mi
- Point Pleasant, WV radar 18 mi
- St. Albans, WV radar 18 mi
- Ripley, WV radar 21 mi
- Dunbar, WV radar 21 mi
- Barboursville, WV radar 22 mi