Putnam, AL Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Putnam What TALON shows

What weather hits Putnam?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 70 days in the Marengo forecast zone and Marengo County — the most common reported hazard around Putnam, mostly in June and April. Next come excessive heat (12 days) and flash flooding (8 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds	70	May 2026	May 3, 2009 · $50,000 damage
Excessive heat	12	Jul 2025	Jul 1, 2012 · 1 death
Flash flooding	8	May 2026	Mar 9, 2011 · $75,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms	7	Dec 2017	—
Flooding	6	Jul 2005	Jul 11, 2005 · $5,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill	4	Jan 2014	Mar 7, 1996 · $1.0 million damage
Hurricanes & tropical storms	3	Oct 2020	Aug 29, 2005 · $2.4 million damage
Lightning casualties & damage	3	Jun 2023	Jul 9, 2003 · $150,000 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 Marengo forecast zone and Marengo County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Putnam?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMOB (Mobile, AL), about 93 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 Putnam	View
KMOB Mobile, AL	93 mi south	8,700 ft	Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KBMX Birmingham, AL	108 mi northeast	10,900 ft	Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KDGX Jackson, MS	116 mi west	12,000 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 Putnam

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 64 tornadoes within 25 miles of Putnam, 23 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in November and April. The strongest was an EF4 on April 27, 2011, which passed about 23 miles north-northwest of town and caused 7 deaths. The most recent was an EF2 on February 12, 2025, which passed about 17 miles south-southeast of town.

Hail: 85 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 13 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-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 Putnam'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.

Putnam radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Putnam, AL?

KMOB (Mobile, AL), about 93 miles south. KBMX (Birmingham, AL) is 108 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Putnam?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Putnam the lowest scan from KMOB is about 8,700 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.

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

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