Athens, AL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Athens, Limestone County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Athens?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 201 days in the Limestone forecast zone and Limestone County — the most common reported hazard around Athens, mostly in June and July. Next come excessive heat (62 days) and flash flooding (47 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 201 | Dec 2025 | Oct 18, 2007 · $1.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 62 | Aug 2025 | Jul 28, 2005 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 47 | Jun 2025 | Apr 3, 2000 · $150,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 26 | Aug 2023 | Aug 3, 2011 · $500,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 23 | Jan 2025 | Jan 28, 2000 · $15,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 20 | Feb 2026 | Mar 7, 1996 · $1.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 17 | Mar 2023 | — |
| High winds | 8 | Mar 2023 | Jan 18, 1996 · $20,000 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 Limestone forecast zone and Limestone County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Athens get?
A normal year brings about 1.3 inches of snow to Athens, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Athens weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually January (0.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 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 Athens?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KHTX (Huntsville, AL), about 50 miles east-northeast. 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 Athens | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KHTX Huntsville, AL | 50 mi east-northeast | 3,600 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KGWX Columbus AFB, MS | 100 mi southwest | 9,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KOHX Nashville, TN | 104 mi north-northeast | 10,200 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 Athens
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 196 tornadoes within 25 miles of Athens, 56 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an EF5 on April 27, 2011, which passed about 5 miles south-southeast of town and caused 72 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on May 27, 2025, which touched down about 18 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 474 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 56 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on April 10, 2009.
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 Athens'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.
Athens radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Athens, AL?
KHTX (Huntsville, AL), about 50 miles east-northeast. KGWX (Columbus AFB, MS) is 100 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Athens?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Athens the lowest scan from KHTX is about 3,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Athens 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 Athens, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Decatur, AL radar 14 mi
- Trinity, AL radar 15 mi
- Ardmore, AL radar 16 mi
- Huntsville, AL radar 17 mi
- Triana, AL radar 18 mi
- Priceville, AL radar 18 mi
- Rogersville, AL radar 19 mi
- Hartselle, AL radar 23 mi
- Town Creek, AL radar 27 mi