Elkins, WV Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Elkins, Randolph County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Elkins?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 59 days in the Northwest Randolph forecast zone and Randolph County — the most common reported hazard around Elkins, mostly in June and April. Next come flash flooding (36 days) and flooding (32 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 59 | Jun 2026 | Jun 29, 2012 · 1 death · $1.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 36 | Jun 2026 | May 16, 1996 · 2 deaths · $1.5 million damage |
| Flooding | 32 | Mar 2026 | Jun 2, 2018 · $50,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 19 | Mar 2026 | — |
| High winds | 7 | Dec 2025 | Feb 24, 2019 · $50,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 2 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | Jul 2002 | Jul 9, 2002 · $2,000 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 Northwest Randolph forecast zone and Randolph County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Elkins get?
A normal year brings about 69 inches of snow to Elkins, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Elkins Randolph Co Ap weather station 2.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (20.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.9 | 4.1 | 14.5 | 20.3 | 15.4 | 11.4 | 2.3 | 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 Elkins?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRLX (Charleston, WV), about 109 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 Elkins | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRLX Charleston, WV | 109 mi west-southwest | 11,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KPBZ Pittsburgh, PA | 113 mi north | 11,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 127 mi east | 14,000 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 Elkins
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 9 tornadoes within 25 miles of Elkins, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F2 on July 9, 1980, which touched down about 11 miles southeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on June 21, 2016, which touched down about 17 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 80 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 2 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.00-inch hail on May 4, 2025.
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 Elkins'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.
Elkins radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Elkins, WV?
KRLX (Charleston, WV), about 109 miles west-southwest. KPBZ (Pittsburgh, PA) is 113 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Elkins?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Elkins the lowest scan from KRLX is about 11,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Elkins 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 Elkins, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Belington, WV radar 8 mi
- Parsons, WV radar 15 mi
- Philippi, WV radar 19 mi
- Buckhannon, WV radar 21 mi
- Grafton, WV radar 30 mi
- Stonewood, WV radar 33 mi
- Bridgeport, WV radar 34 mi
- Weston, WV radar 34 mi
- Nutter Fort, WV radar 34 mi
- Clarksburg, WV radar 36 mi