Kingwood, WV Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Kingwood, Preston County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Kingwood?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 111 days in the Preston forecast zone and Preston County — the most common reported hazard around Kingwood, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (49 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (18 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 111 | Jun 2026 | May 19, 2019 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 49 | Jul 2025 | Jun 6, 2001 · $150,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 18 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 12 | Apr 2024 | Apr 3, 2024 · $251,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 6 | Jan 2025 | — |
| High winds | 5 | Jan 2024 | Jan 9, 2024 · $25,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 4 | May 1998 | Aug 17, 1997 · $300,000 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 Preston forecast zone and Preston County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Kingwood get?
A normal year brings about 171 inches of snow to Kingwood, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Terra Alta #1 weather station 7.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (44.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.7 | 15.7 | 30.9 | 44.1 | 36.3 | 28.2 | 12.1 | 0.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Kingwood?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPBZ (Pittsburgh, PA), about 79 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 Kingwood | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPBZ Pittsburgh, PA | 79 mi north-northwest | 6,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLWX Sterling, MD | 122 mi east-southeast | 13,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KCCX State College, PA | 134 mi northeast | 15,100 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 Kingwood
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 32 tornadoes within 25 miles of Kingwood, 6 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F3 on May 19, 1967, which touched down about 20 miles east-southeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on May 11, 2024, which touched down about 20 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 154 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 9 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 Kingwood'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.
Kingwood radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Kingwood, WV?
KPBZ (Pittsburgh, PA), about 79 miles north-northwest. KLWX (Sterling, MD) is 122 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Kingwood?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Kingwood the lowest scan from KPBZ is about 6,700 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Kingwood 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 Kingwood, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Terra Alta, WV radar 8 mi
- Morgantown, WV radar 18 mi
- Westover, WV radar 20 mi
- Grafton, WV radar 20 mi
- Star City, WV radar 21 mi
- Granville, WV radar 21 mi
- Fairmont, WV radar 25 mi
- Pleasant Valley, WV radar 25 mi
- Barrackville, WV radar 26 mi
- Parsons, WV radar 26 mi