Spruce Pine, AL Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Spruce PineWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Spruce Pine?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 139 days in the Franklin forecast zone and Franklin County — the most common reported hazard around Spruce Pine, mostly in June and July. Next come excessive heat (63 days) and flash flooding (28 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds139Apr 2026May 25, 2011 · $210,000 damage
Excessive heat63Aug 2025Jun 14, 2010 · 1 death
Flash flooding28Sep 2025Jan 7, 1998 · $30,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms20Jan 2025Feb 16, 1996 · $15,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill18Feb 2026Mar 7, 1996 · $1.0 million damage
High winds7Mar 2023Jan 18, 1996 · $20,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage6Jun 2025Apr 20, 2011 · $25,000 damage
Ice storms & sleet5Jan 2024Dec 23, 1998 · $800,000 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 Franklin forecast zone and Franklin County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Spruce Pine?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGWX (Columbus AFB, MS), about 48 miles 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over Spruce PineView
KGWX
Columbus AFB, MS		48 mi southwest3,400 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KHTX
Huntsville, AL		101 mi east-northeast9,700 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KBMX
Birmingham, AL		101 mi south-southeast9,700 ftFair — 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 Spruce Pine

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 116 tornadoes within 25 miles of Spruce Pine, 33 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and November. The strongest was an EF5 on April 27, 2011, which passed about 5 miles south-southeast of town and caused 72 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on April 5, 2025, which passed about 23 miles north-northwest of town.

Hail: 219 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 24 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 27, 1996.

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 Spruce Pine'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.

Spruce Pine radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Spruce Pine, AL?

KGWX (Columbus AFB, MS), about 48 miles southwest. KHTX (Huntsville, AL) is 101 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Spruce Pine?

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

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

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