Emelle, AL Live Doppler Radar

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

What weather hits Emelle?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 102 days in the Sumter forecast zone and Sumter County — the most common reported hazard around Emelle, mostly in April and June. Next come flash flooding (18 days) and excessive heat (11 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds102Jun 2026Apr 24, 2010 · $100,000 damage
Flash flooding18May 2026Apr 7, 2003 · 1 death · $100,000 damage
Excessive heat11Jul 2025—
Heavy snow & winter storms8Jan 2022Jan 27, 2000 · $20,000 damage
Flooding7Jul 2005Apr 7, 2003 · $335,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill4Jan 2014Mar 7, 1996 · $1.0 million damage
Hurricanes & tropical storms3Oct 2020Aug 29, 2005 · $4.0 million damage
Ice storms & sleet2Jan 2011—

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 Sumter forecast zone and Sumter County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Emelle?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGWX (Columbus AFB, MS), about 81 miles north. 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over EmelleView
KGWX
Columbus AFB, MS
81 mi north7,000 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KBMX
Birmingham, AL
95 mi east-northeast8,900 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KDGX
Jackson, MS
102 mi west-southwest9,900 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation

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 Emelle

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 92 tornadoes within 25 miles of Emelle, 30 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in March and April. The strongest was an F5 on March 3, 1966, which passed about 19 miles north-northwest of town and caused 58 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on March 15, 2025, which passed about 23 miles northeast of town.

Hail: 102 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 6 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on April 15, 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 Emelle'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.

Emelle radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Emelle, AL?

KGWX (Columbus AFB, MS), about 81 miles north. KBMX (Birmingham, AL) is 95 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Emelle?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Emelle the lowest scan from KGWX is about 7,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.

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

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