Nitro, WV Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Nitro, Kanawha County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Nitro?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 206 days in the Kanawha forecast zone and Kanawha County — the most common reported hazard around Nitro, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (91 days) and flooding (49 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 206 | Jun 2026 | Aug 4, 2010 · 1 death · $200,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 91 | Jun 2026 | Feb 18, 2000 · 3 deaths · $500,000 damage |
| Flooding | 49 | Jul 2025 | Jun 23, 2016 · 4 deaths · $36 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 43 | Feb 2026 | Feb 16, 2003 · $1.8 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 27 | Feb 2026 | Dec 30, 2017 · 1 death |
| Excessive heat | 20 | Jul 2011 | — |
| High winds | 17 | Apr 2023 | Dec 9, 2009 · $125,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 10 | Jul 2018 | Jul 27, 2005 · 1 death |
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 Kanawha forecast zone and Kanawha County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Nitro get?
A normal year brings about 11 inches of snow to Nitro, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Winfield Locks weather station 9.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (4.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 4.1 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 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 Nitro?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRLX (Charleston, WV), about 8 miles south-southeast. 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 Nitro | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRLX Charleston, WV | 8 mi south-southeast | 400 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KJKL Jackson, KY | 100 mi southwest | 9,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFCX Blacksburg, VA | 127 mi southeast | 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 Nitro
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 29 tornadoes within 25 miles of Nitro, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and April. The strongest was an EF2 on April 2, 2024, which crossed near town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 26, 2024, which touched down about 9 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 220 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 18 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on May 23, 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 Nitro'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.
Nitro radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Nitro, WV?
KRLX (Charleston, WV), about 8 miles south-southeast. KJKL (Jackson, KY) is 100 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Nitro?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Nitro the lowest scan from KRLX is about 400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Nitro 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 Nitro, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- St. Albans, WV radar 2 mi
- Dunbar, WV radar 5 mi
- South Charleston, WV radar 7 mi
- Winfield, WV radar 9 mi
- Charleston, WV radar 10 mi
- Eleanor, WV radar 11 mi
- Hurricane, WV radar 11 mi
- Buffalo, WV radar 17 mi
- Marmet, WV radar 17 mi
- Milton, WV radar 18 mi