Despard, WV Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Despard, Harrison County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Despard?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 112 days in the Harrison forecast zone and Harrison County — the most common reported hazard around Despard, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (64 days) and flooding (40 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 112 | Jun 2026 | Jun 29, 2012 · $3.5 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 64 | Jun 2026 | Jul 29, 2017 · $1.3 million damage |
| Flooding | 40 | May 2026 | Jun 4, 2008 · $500,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 38 | Jan 2026 | Jan 22, 2016 · 1 death · $50,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 29 | Feb 2026 | Jan 6, 2014 · $200,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 19 | Jul 2011 | — |
| High winds | 17 | Mar 2024 | Apr 2, 2016 · $25,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Jun 2023 | Aug 17, 1997 · 1 death · $35,000 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 Harrison forecast zone and Harrison County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Despard get?
A normal year brings about 24 inches of snow to Despard, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Clarksburg 1 weather station 2.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (7.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.7 | 3.8 | 7.9 | 7.8 | 3.5 | 0.1 | 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 Despard?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPBZ (Pittsburgh, PA), about 86 miles north. 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 Despard | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPBZ Pittsburgh, PA | 86 mi north | 7,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KRLX Charleston, WV | 101 mi southwest | 9,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 153 mi east | 18,800 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 Despard
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 23 tornadoes within 25 miles of Despard, 5 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F3 on October 1, 1986, which touched down about 25 miles west of town. The most recent was an EF0 on June 14, 2021, which touched down about 16 miles northeast of town.
Hail: 152 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 8 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on April 28, 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 Despard'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.
Despard radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Despard, WV?
KPBZ (Pittsburgh, PA), about 86 miles north. KRLX (Charleston, WV) is 101 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Despard?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Despard the lowest scan from KPBZ is about 7,700 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Despard 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 Despard, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Nutter Fort, WV radar 2 mi
- Stonewood, WV radar 3 mi
- Clarksburg, WV radar 3 mi
- Bridgeport, WV radar 4 mi
- Shinnston, WV radar 7 mi
- Monongah, WV radar 13 mi
- Salem, WV radar 13 mi
- Pleasant Valley, WV radar 14 mi
- Fairmont, WV radar 16 mi
- Grafton, WV radar 16 mi