Highland Lake, AL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Highland Lake, Blount County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Highland Lake?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 150 days in the Blount forecast zone and Blount County — the most common reported hazard around Highland Lake, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (33 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (15 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 150 | Jun 2026 | Feb 27, 1999 · $125,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 33 | Aug 2023 | Jan 6, 2009 · $200,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 15 | Jan 2025 | Jan 28, 2000 · $15,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 7 | Aug 2010 | Jul 29, 2002 · 1 death |
| Excessive heat | 6 | Jul 2025 | Jul 12, 2025 · 1 death |
| High winds | 5 | Mar 2023 | Sep 16, 2004 · $80,000 damage |
| Flooding | 5 | Mar 2024 | — |
| 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 Blount forecast zone and Blount County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Highland Lake get?
A normal year brings about 1.7 inches of snow to Highland Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Walnut Grove weather station 13.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually March (1.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.4 | 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 Highland Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBMX (Birmingham, AL), about 54 miles south-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 Highland Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBMX Birmingham, AL | 54 mi south-southwest | 3,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KHTX Huntsville, AL | 74 mi north-northeast | 6,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMXX Maxwell AFB, AL | 101 mi south-southeast | 9,700 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 Highland Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 162 tornadoes within 25 miles of Highland Lake, 66 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and March. The strongest was an F4 on April 15, 1956, which passed about 22 miles south-southwest of town and caused 25 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on November 25, 2025, which passed about 19 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 272 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 24 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.38-inch hail on March 19, 2018.
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 Highland Lake'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.
Highland Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Highland Lake, AL?
KBMX (Birmingham, AL), about 54 miles south-southwest. KHTX (Huntsville, AL) is 74 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Highland Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Highland Lake the lowest scan from KBMX is about 3,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Highland Lake 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 Highland Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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