Emerald Mountain, AL Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Emerald Mountain What TALON shows

What weather hits Emerald Mountain?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 163 days in the Elmore forecast zone and Elmore County — the most common reported hazard around Emerald Mountain, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (41 days) and lightning casualties & damage (12 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds	163	Jun 2026	Mar 3, 1999 · 1 death · $135,000 damage
Flash flooding	41	May 2026	May 7, 2009 · $4.9 million damage
Lightning casualties & damage	12	May 2019	Jul 23, 2015 · 1 death
Heavy snow & winter storms	8	Jan 2018	Jan 28, 2014 · 2 deaths
Excessive heat	7	Aug 2023	Aug 8, 2007 · 1 death
Hurricanes & tropical storms	5	Oct 2020	Jul 10, 2005 · $200,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill	4	Jan 2014	Mar 7, 1996 · $1.0 million damage
Flooding	4	Dec 2015	Apr 1, 2005 · $5,000 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 Elmore forecast zone and Elmore County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Emerald Mountain?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMXX (Maxwell AFB, AL), about 19 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 Emerald Mountain	View
KMXX Maxwell AFB, AL	19 mi east-northeast	1,000 ft	Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KBMX Birmingham, AL	64 mi northwest	5,000 ft	Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KEOX Fort Rucker, AL	78 mi south-southeast	6,600 ft	Fair — 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 Emerald Mountain

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 142 tornadoes within 25 miles of Emerald Mountain, 30 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and March. The strongest was an EF4 on April 27, 2011, which passed about 13 miles north-northwest of town and caused 7 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on May 21, 2025, which passed about 19 miles south-southeast of town.

Hail: 187 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 24 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on March 27, 2005.

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 Emerald Mountain'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.

Emerald Mountain radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Emerald Mountain, AL?

KMXX (Maxwell AFB, AL), about 19 miles east-northeast. KBMX (Birmingham, AL) is 64 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Emerald Mountain?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Emerald Mountain the lowest scan from KMXX is about 1,000 ft up.

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

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