Madison, AL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Madison, Madison County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Madison?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 326 days in the Madison forecast zone and Madison County — the most common reported hazard around Madison, mostly in June and July. Next come excessive heat (165 days) and flash flooding (95 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 326 | Dec 2025 | Jun 29, 2008 · 1 death · $1.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 165 | Aug 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 95 | Sep 2025 | Jun 28, 1999 · 1 death · $1.5 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 59 | May 2025 | Aug 18, 2002 · 1 death · $100,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 58 | Feb 2026 | Feb 22, 2026 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 26 | Jan 2025 | Jan 28, 2000 · $15,000 damage |
| Flooding | 23 | Sep 2021 | Dec 25, 2015 · 1 death |
| High winds | 11 | Feb 2023 | Dec 24, 2009 · $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 Madison forecast zone and Madison County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Madison get?
A normal year brings about 2.4 inches of snow to Madison, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Huntsville Intl Ap weather station 4.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (1.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 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 Madison?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KHTX (Huntsville, AL), about 41 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 Madison | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KHTX Huntsville, AL | 41 mi east-northeast | 2,800 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KGWX Columbus AFB, MS | 106 mi west-southwest | 10,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KBMX Birmingham, AL | 106 mi south | 10,600 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 Madison
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 206 tornadoes within 25 miles of Madison, 60 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an EF5 on April 27, 2011, which passed about 4 miles north-northwest of town and caused 72 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on May 27, 2025, which touched down about 7 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 507 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 52 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 Madison'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.
Madison radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Madison, AL?
KHTX (Huntsville, AL), about 41 miles east-northeast. KGWX (Columbus AFB, MS) is 106 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Madison?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Madison the lowest scan from KHTX is about 2,800 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Madison 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 Madison, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Huntsville, AL radar 5 mi
- Triana, AL radar 9 mi
- Athens, AL radar 12 mi
- Priceville, AL radar 14 mi
- Decatur, AL radar 16 mi
- Owens Cross Roads, AL radar 19 mi
- Ardmore, AL radar 20 mi
- Trinity, AL radar 20 mi
- Hartselle, AL radar 21 mi
- New Hope, AL radar 23 mi