Needham, AL Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Needham What TALON shows

What weather hits Needham?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 103 days in the Choctaw forecast zone and Choctaw County — the most common reported hazard around Needham, mostly in April and July. Next come flash flooding (37 days) and hurricanes & tropical storms (8 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds	103	May 2024	Jun 5, 1998 · $300,000 damage
Flash flooding	37	Mar 2023	Jan 7, 1998 · 1 death · $20,000 damage
Hurricanes & tropical storms	8	Oct 2020	Sep 25, 1998 · $90,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms	7	Jan 2025	—
Ice storms & sleet	4	Jan 2017	Jan 6, 2017 · $10,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage	4	Jun 2007	Jun 26, 2007 · $60,000 damage
Excessive heat	2	Aug 2007	—

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

Which radars cover Needham?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMOB (Mobile, AL), about 91 miles south. 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 Needham	View
KMOB Mobile, AL	91 mi south	8,300 ft	Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KDGX Jackson, MS	99 mi west-northwest	9,400 ft	Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KBMX Birmingham, AL	123 mi northeast	13,200 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 Needham

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 71 tornadoes within 25 miles of Needham, 30 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and November. The strongest was an EF4 on April 27, 2011, which passed about 20 miles north-northwest of town and caused 7 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on April 6, 2025, which touched down about 18 miles northwest of town.

Hail: 100 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 3 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-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 Needham'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.

Needham radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Needham, AL?

KMOB (Mobile, AL), about 91 miles south. KDGX (Jackson, MS) is 99 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Needham?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Needham the lowest scan from KMOB is about 8,300 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.

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

Radar for nearby towns

All Alabama towns →