Gary, WV Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Gary What TALON shows

What weather hits Gary?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 75 days in the McDowell forecast zone and McDowell County — the most common reported hazard around Gary, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (55 days) and flash flooding (33 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds	75	Jun 2026	Feb 11, 2009 · 1 death · $250,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms	55	Feb 2026	Jan 27, 1998 · $2.0 million damage
Flash flooding	33	Feb 2025	Feb 15, 2025 · 3 deaths · $5.0 million damage
Extreme cold & wind chill	27	Feb 2026	Jan 23, 2005 · 1 death
Flooding	24	May 2025	Feb 15, 2025 · $5.0 million damage
Excessive heat	19	Jul 2011	—
High winds	10	Apr 2023	Dec 9, 2009 · $20,000 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 McDowell forecast zone and McDowell County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

How much snow does Gary get?

A normal year brings about 20 inches of snow to Gary, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Pineville weather station 14.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (9.8 in).

Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May
0.0	0.4	2.6	9.8	4.5	2.7	0.0	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 Gary?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRLX (Charleston, WV), about 66 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 Gary	View
KRLX Charleston, WV	66 mi north	5,300 ft	Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KFCX Blacksburg, VA	73 mi east-southeast	6,100 ft	Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KJKL Jackson, KY	99 mi west	9,400 ft	Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation

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 Gary

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 6 tornadoes within 25 miles of Gary, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and October. The strongest was an EF2 on October 7, 2014, which passed about 25 miles northeast of town.

Hail: 173 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 11 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on July 9, 1980.

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 Gary'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.

Gary radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Gary, WV?

KRLX (Charleston, WV), about 66 miles north. KFCX (Blacksburg, VA) is 73 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Gary?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Gary the lowest scan from KRLX is about 5,300 ft up.

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

Radar for nearby towns

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