Roanoke, AL Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Roanoke What TALON shows

What weather hits Roanoke?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 102 days in the Randolph forecast zone and Randolph County — the most common reported hazard around Roanoke, mostly in June and May. Next come flash flooding (19 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (10 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds	102	Jun 2026	May 2, 2003 · $800,000 damage
Flash flooding	19	Mar 2023	Mar 8, 1998 · $530,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms	10	Jan 2025	Dec 18, 1996 · $35,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage	9	Mar 2011	Aug 15, 2006 · $75,000 damage
Excessive heat	5	Aug 2023	—
Flooding	5	Feb 2020	May 8, 2003 · $300,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill	4	Jan 2014	Mar 7, 1996 · $1.0 million damage
Hurricanes & tropical storms	4	Oct 2020	Jul 10, 2005 · $47,000 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 Randolph forecast zone and Randolph County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Roanoke?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMXX (Maxwell AFB, AL), about 49 miles south-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 Roanoke	View
KMXX Maxwell AFB, AL	49 mi south-southwest	3,400 ft	Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KFFC Atlanta, GA	49 mi east-northeast	3,400 ft	Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KBMX Birmingham, AL	81 mi west	7,000 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 Roanoke

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 85 tornadoes within 25 miles of Roanoke, 23 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and March. The strongest was an EF4 on April 27, 2011, which passed about 18 miles south-southwest of town and caused 7 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on May 27, 2025, which touched down about 22 miles north-northeast of town.

Hail: 198 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 17 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on March 19, 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 Roanoke'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.

Roanoke radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Roanoke, AL?

KMXX (Maxwell AFB, AL), about 49 miles south-southwest. KFFC (Atlanta, GA) is 49 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Roanoke?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Roanoke the lowest scan from KMXX is about 3,400 ft up.

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

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