Valley Head, WV Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Valley Head, Randolph County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Valley Head?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 59 days in the Southeast Randolph forecast zone and Randolph County — the most common reported hazard around Valley Head, mostly in June and April. Next come flash flooding (36 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (34 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 |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 34 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 32 | Mar 2026 | Jun 2, 2018 · $50,000 damage |
| High winds | 8 | Dec 2025 | Feb 24, 2019 · $50,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 2 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 1 | Nov 2018 | Nov 15, 2018 · $10,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 1 | Dec 2025 | — |
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 Southeast Randolph forecast zone and Randolph County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Valley Head get?
A normal year brings about 145 inches of snow to Valley Head, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Snowshoe weather station 10.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (35.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.8 | 9.7 | 28.8 | 35.5 | 31.4 | 27.2 | 8.5 | 0.8 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Valley Head?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRLX (Charleston, WV), about 93 miles west. 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 Valley Head | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRLX Charleston, WV | 93 mi west | 8,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFCX Blacksburg, VA | 106 mi south | 10,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KPBZ Pittsburgh, PA | 138 mi north | 15,800 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 Valley Head
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 3 tornadoes within 25 miles of Valley Head, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and July. The strongest was an F2 on July 9, 1980, which touched down about 24 miles northeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on June 17, 2015, which touched down about 21 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 48 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 1 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.00-inch hail on May 27, 1959.
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 Valley Head'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.
Valley Head radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Valley Head, WV?
KRLX (Charleston, WV), about 93 miles west. KFCX (Blacksburg, VA) is 106 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Valley Head?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Valley Head the lowest scan from KRLX is about 8,600 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Valley Head 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 Valley Head, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Parsons, WV radar 42 mi
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