Detroit, AL Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Detroit What TALON shows

What weather hits Detroit?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 139 days in the Lamar forecast zone and Lamar County — the most common reported hazard around Detroit, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (50 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (18 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds	139	Jun 2026	Feb 16, 2001 · $300,000 damage
Flash flooding	50	Jun 2025	Dec 8, 2009 · $100,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms	18	Jan 2025	Feb 16, 1996 · $15,000 damage
Excessive heat	9	Jul 2025	—
Lightning casualties & damage	6	Mar 2022	Sep 6, 2001 · 1 death
Flooding	5	Mar 2024	—
High winds	4	Sep 2004	Sep 16, 2004 · $325,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill	4	Jan 2014	Mar 7, 1996 · $1.0 million 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 Lamar forecast zone and Lamar County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Detroit?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGWX (Columbus AFB, MS), about 13 miles southwest. 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 Detroit	View
KGWX Columbus AFB, MS	13 mi southwest	700 ft	Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KBMX Birmingham, AL	100 mi southeast	9,600 ft	Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KNQA Memphis, TN	133 mi northwest	15,000 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 Detroit

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 120 tornadoes within 25 miles of Detroit, 33 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and March. The strongest was an EF5 on April 27, 2011, which passed about 5 miles north-northeast of town and caused 72 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on March 23, 2025, which touched down about 11 miles west-southwest of town.

Hail: 207 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 10 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on April 27, 2011.

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 Detroit'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.

Detroit radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Detroit, AL?

KGWX (Columbus AFB, MS), about 13 miles southwest. KBMX (Birmingham, AL) is 100 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Detroit?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Detroit the lowest scan from KGWX is about 700 ft up.

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

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