Coal City, WV Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Coal City, Raleigh County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Coal City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 92 days in the Southeast Raleigh forecast zone and Raleigh County — the most common reported hazard around Coal City, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (40 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (22 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 92 | Jun 2026 | Jun 29, 2012 · $3.5 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 40 | Jun 2026 | Jun 1, 1997 · 2 deaths · $200,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 22 | Feb 2026 | Feb 11, 2021 · $3,000 damage |
| Flooding | 19 | Feb 2025 | Mar 13, 2010 · 2 deaths · $4.0 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 7 | Feb 2017 | Jul 23, 2012 · $30,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 3 | Feb 2026 | Dec 23, 2022 · $1.5 million damage |
| High winds | 3 | Jan 2024 | Jan 12, 2024 · $10,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 3 | Nov 2001 | — |
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 Southeast Raleigh forecast zone and Raleigh County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Coal City get?
A normal year brings about 38 inches of snow to Coal City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Beckley Va Hospital weather station 6.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (12.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 1.2 | 7.9 | 12.8 | 10.0 | 5.2 | 0.8 | 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 Coal City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRLX (Charleston, WV), about 52 miles north-northwest. 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 Coal City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRLX Charleston, WV | 52 mi north-northwest | 3,700 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KFCX Blacksburg, VA | 69 mi southeast | 5,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KJKL Jackson, KY | 115 mi west | 11,900 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 Coal City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 15 tornadoes within 25 miles of Coal City, 6 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and October. The strongest was an F3 on April 4, 1974, which passed about 14 miles northeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF2 on October 7, 2014, which passed about 5 miles south of town.
Hail: 193 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 9 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 Coal City'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.
Coal City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Coal City, WV?
KRLX (Charleston, WV), about 52 miles north-northwest. KFCX (Blacksburg, VA) is 69 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Coal City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Coal City the lowest scan from KRLX is about 3,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Coal City 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 Coal City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Sophia, WV radar 3 mi
- Mabscott, WV radar 6 mi
- Beckley, WV radar 7 mi
- Mullens, WV radar 11 mi
- Mount Hope, WV radar 15 mi
- Hinton, WV radar 18 mi
- Oak Hill, WV radar 21 mi
- Athens, WV radar 21 mi
- Princeton, WV radar 22 mi
- Oceana, WV radar 23 mi