Charleston, WV Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Charleston, Kanawha County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Charleston?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 206 days in the Kanawha forecast zone and Kanawha County — the most common reported hazard around Charleston, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (91 days) and flooding (49 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 206 | Jun 2026 | Aug 4, 2010 · 1 death · $200,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 91 | Jun 2026 | Feb 18, 2000 · 3 deaths · $500,000 damage |
| Flooding | 49 | Jul 2025 | Jun 23, 2016 · 4 deaths · $36 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 43 | Feb 2026 | Feb 16, 2003 · $1.8 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 27 | Feb 2026 | Dec 30, 2017 · 1 death |
| Excessive heat | 20 | Jul 2011 | — |
| High winds | 17 | Apr 2023 | Dec 9, 2009 · $125,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 10 | Jul 2018 | Jul 27, 2005 · 1 death |
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 Kanawha forecast zone and Kanawha County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Charleston get?
A normal year brings about 32 inches of snow to Charleston, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Charleston Yeager Ap weather station 3.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (10.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.6 | 1.5 | 5.0 | 10.3 | 7.7 | 5.9 | 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 Charleston?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRLX (Charleston, WV), about 6 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 Charleston | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRLX Charleston, WV | 6 mi west-southwest | 300 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KJKL Jackson, KY | 105 mi west-southwest | 10,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFCX Blacksburg, VA | 118 mi southeast | 12,400 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 Charleston
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 26 tornadoes within 25 miles of Charleston, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and June. The strongest was an EF2 on April 2, 2024, which passed about 6 miles north-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 26, 2024, which touched down about 19 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 195 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 17 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on May 23, 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 Charleston'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.
Charleston radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Charleston, WV?
KRLX (Charleston, WV), about 6 miles west-southwest. KJKL (Jackson, KY) is 105 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Charleston?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Charleston the lowest scan from KRLX is about 300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Charleston 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 Charleston, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- South Charleston, WV radar 4 mi
- Dunbar, WV radar 6 mi
- Marmet, WV radar 8 mi
- Belle, WV radar 9 mi
- Chesapeake, WV radar 10 mi
- St. Albans, WV radar 10 mi
- Nitro, WV radar 10 mi
- Winfield, WV radar 18 mi
- Eleanor, WV radar 20 mi
- Montgomery, WV radar 21 mi