Chester, WV Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Chester, Hancock County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for ChesterWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Chester?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 84 days in the Hancock forecast zone and Hancock County — the most common reported hazard around Chester, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (23 days) and flash flooding (17 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds84Jun 2025Jun 28, 2008 · $100,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms23Jan 2026Feb 16, 2003 · $15,000 damage
Flash flooding17May 2026Apr 11, 2024 · $395,000 damage
Flooding14Apr 2024Sep 17, 2004 · $36 million damage
High winds14Mar 2021Feb 11, 2009 · $100,000 damage
Ice storms & sleet7Feb 2022Jan 22, 2005 · $2,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill5Jan 2025—
Lightning casualties & damage2Aug 1998Aug 24, 1998 · $10,000 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 Hancock forecast zone and Hancock County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Chester?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPBZ (Pittsburgh, PA), about 19 miles east-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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over ChesterView
KPBZ
Pittsburgh, PA		19 mi east-southeast1,100 ftExcellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KCLE
Cleveland, OH		87 mi northwest7,800 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KCCX
State College, PA		136 mi east15,400 ftLimited — 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 Chester

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 58 tornadoes within 25 miles of Chester, 10 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F3 on May 31, 1985, which passed about 15 miles north-northeast of town and caused 9 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on June 26, 2024, which passed about 19 miles southeast of town.

Hail: 263 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 14 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on July 26, 1956.

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 Chester'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.

Chester radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Chester, WV?

KPBZ (Pittsburgh, PA), about 19 miles east-southeast. KCLE (Cleveland, OH) is 87 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Chester?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Chester the lowest scan from KPBZ is about 1,100 ft up.

Is TALON's radar for Chester 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 Chester, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

Radar for nearby towns

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