Rainsville, AL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Rainsville, DeKalb County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Rainsville?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 220 days in the DeKalb forecast zone and DeKalb County — the most common reported hazard around Rainsville, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (40 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (25 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 220 | May 2026 | Aug 8, 2006 · $350,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 40 | Aug 2025 | Jun 19, 2021 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 25 | Jan 2025 | Feb 16, 1996 · $15,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 18 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 17 | Aug 2025 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 16 | Jul 2015 | Jul 24, 1999 · $100,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 15 | Feb 2026 | Mar 7, 1996 · $1.0 million damage |
| High winds | 12 | Sep 2017 | Apr 13, 2009 · $500,000 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 DeKalb forecast zone and DeKalb County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Rainsville get?
A normal year brings about 5.0 inches of snow to Rainsville, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Valley Head weather station 14.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually March (1.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 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 Rainsville?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KHTX (Huntsville, AL), about 33 miles north-northwest. 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 Rainsville | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KHTX Huntsville, AL | 33 mi north-northwest | 2,100 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KBMX Birmingham, AL | 106 mi south-southwest | 10,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFFC Atlanta, GA | 107 mi southeast | 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 Rainsville
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 134 tornadoes within 25 miles of Rainsville, 53 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an EF5 on April 27, 2011, which crossed near town and caused 25 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on May 20, 2025, which passed about 24 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 222 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 25 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 2, 2003.
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 Rainsville'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.
Rainsville radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Rainsville, AL?
KHTX (Huntsville, AL), about 33 miles north-northwest. KBMX (Birmingham, AL) is 106 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Rainsville?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Rainsville the lowest scan from KHTX is about 2,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Rainsville 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 Rainsville, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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