Muscle Shoals, AL Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Muscle ShoalsWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Muscle Shoals?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 297 days in the Colbert forecast zone and Colbert County — the most common reported hazard around Muscle Shoals, mostly in June and July. Next come excessive heat (106 days) and flash flooding (69 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds297May 2026Aug 4, 2011 · 1 death · $125,000 damage
Excessive heat106Aug 2025—
Flash flooding69Jun 2025May 6, 2003 · $500,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill20Feb 2026Mar 7, 1996 · $1.0 million damage
Lightning casualties & damage20Jul 2023Oct 24, 2010 · 1 death
Heavy snow & winter storms17Jan 2025Jan 27, 2000 · $15,000 damage
High winds14Mar 2023Apr 8, 2000 · 1 death · $5,000 damage
Flooding14Feb 2023—

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

Which radars cover Muscle Shoals?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGWX (Columbus AFB, MS), about 71 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over Muscle ShoalsView
KGWX
Columbus AFB, MS		71 mi southwest5,700 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KHTX
Huntsville, AL		89 mi east8,000 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KBMX
Birmingham, AL		119 mi south-southeast12,600 ftLimited — 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 Muscle Shoals

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 127 tornadoes within 25 miles of Muscle Shoals, 36 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an EF5 on April 27, 2011, which passed about 23 miles south-southeast of town and caused 72 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on May 20, 2025, which touched down about 23 miles west-northwest of town.

Hail: 267 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 22 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on February 12, 2024.

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 Muscle Shoals'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.

Muscle Shoals radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Muscle Shoals, AL?

KGWX (Columbus AFB, MS), about 71 miles southwest. KHTX (Huntsville, AL) is 89 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Muscle Shoals?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Muscle Shoals the lowest scan from KGWX is about 5,700 ft up.

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

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