Opelika, AL Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Opelika What TALON shows

What weather hits Opelika?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 102 days in the Lee forecast zone and Lee County — the most common reported hazard around Opelika, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (26 days) and lightning casualties & damage (14 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds	102	Jun 2026	Mar 6, 1996 · 1 death · $50,000 damage
Flash flooding	26	Jun 2026	Jun 28, 1999 · $1.5 million damage
Lightning casualties & damage	14	Jul 2024	Jul 20, 2024 · 1 death
Heavy snow & winter storms	9	Jan 2025	Jan 28, 2014 · 1 death
Excessive heat	7	Jul 2025	—
Extreme cold & wind chill	4	Jan 2014	Mar 7, 1996 · $1.0 million damage
Hurricanes & tropical storms	4	Oct 2020	Jul 10, 2005 · $35,000 damage
Flooding	2	Nov 2009	May 8, 2003 · $1.9 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 Lee forecast zone and Lee County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Opelika?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMXX (Maxwell AFB, AL), about 25 miles west-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 Opelika	View
KMXX Maxwell AFB, AL	25 mi west-southwest	1,500 ft	Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KFFC Atlanta, GA	68 mi northeast	5,400 ft	Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KEOX Fort Rucker, AL	83 mi south	7,300 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 Opelika

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 99 tornadoes within 25 miles of Opelika, 29 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and March. The strongest was an EF4 on March 3, 2019, which passed about 12 miles south-southeast of town and caused 23 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on May 3, 2025, which passed about 7 miles southeast of town.

Hail: 168 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 16 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on March 18, 2013.

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 Opelika'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.

Opelika radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Opelika, AL?

KMXX (Maxwell AFB, AL), about 25 miles west-southwest. KFFC (Atlanta, GA) is 68 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Opelika?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Opelika the lowest scan from KMXX is about 1,500 ft up.

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

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