Thorsby, AL Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Thorsby What TALON shows

What weather hits Thorsby?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 99 days in the Chilton forecast zone and Chilton County — the most common reported hazard around Thorsby, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (15 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (9 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds	99	Jun 2026	Jan 7, 1998 · $90,000 damage
Flash flooding	15	Feb 2025	Feb 2, 1996 · 1 death
Heavy snow & winter storms	9	Dec 2017	Jan 28, 2014 · 2 deaths
Excessive heat	9	Jul 2025	Aug 8, 2007 · 1 death
Lightning casualties & damage	5	Aug 2003	Jul 20, 1998 · $30,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill	4	Jan 2014	Mar 7, 1996 · $4.0 million damage
Hurricanes & tropical storms	4	Oct 2020	Jul 10, 2005 · $100,000 damage
High winds	2	Sep 2004	Sep 16, 2004 · $775,000 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 Chilton forecast zone and Chilton County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Thorsby?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBMX (Birmingham, AL), about 18 miles north. 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 Thorsby	View
KBMX Birmingham, AL	18 mi north	1,000 ft	Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KMXX Maxwell AFB, AL	60 mi east-southeast	4,600 ft	Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KGWX Columbus AFB, MS	115 mi northwest	11,900 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 Thorsby

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 115 tornadoes within 25 miles of Thorsby, 27 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in March and April. The strongest was an F4 on May 27, 1973, which passed about 8 miles north-northwest of town and caused 7 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on March 15, 2025, which passed about 11 miles west-northwest of town.

Hail: 157 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 15 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on April 22, 2005.

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 Thorsby'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.

Thorsby radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Thorsby, AL?

KBMX (Birmingham, AL), about 18 miles north. KMXX (Maxwell AFB, AL) is 60 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Thorsby?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Thorsby the lowest scan from KBMX is about 1,000 ft up.

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

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