Sylvania, AL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Sylvania, DeKalb County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Sylvania?
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 Sylvania, 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 Sylvania get?
A normal year brings about 5.0 inches of snow to Sylvania, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Valley Head weather station 11.3 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 Sylvania?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KHTX (Huntsville, AL), about 30 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 Sylvania | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KHTX Huntsville, AL | 30 mi north-northwest | 1,800 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KFFC Atlanta, GA | 109 mi southeast | 11,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KBMX Birmingham, AL | 111 mi south-southwest | 11,300 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 Sylvania
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 131 tornadoes within 25 miles of Sylvania, 49 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 EF0 on May 25, 2025, which passed about 21 miles north of town.
Hail: 199 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 20 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on June 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 Sylvania'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.
Sylvania radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Sylvania, AL?
KHTX (Huntsville, AL), about 30 miles north-northwest. KFFC (Atlanta, GA) is 109 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Sylvania?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Sylvania the lowest scan from KHTX is about 1,800 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Sylvania 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 Sylvania, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Rainsville, AL radar 5 mi
- Henagar, AL radar 6 mi
- Fort Payne, AL radar 10 mi
- Scottsboro, AL radar 15 mi
- Collinsville, AL radar 21 mi
- Stevenson, AL radar 22 mi
- Crossville, AL radar 22 mi
- Grant, AL radar 26 mi
- Leesburg, AL radar 27 mi
- Cedar Bluff, AL radar 27 mi