Vance, AL Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Vance What TALON shows

What weather hits Vance?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 181 days in the Tuscaloosa forecast zone and Tuscaloosa County — the most common reported hazard around Vance, mostly in June and April. Next come flash flooding (51 days) and lightning casualties & damage (29 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds	181	Jun 2026	Jun 19, 2021 · 2 deaths
Flash flooding	51	Apr 2025	Mar 22, 2022 · 3 deaths
Lightning casualties & damage	29	Jul 2023	Jul 23, 1997 · $75,000 damage
Excessive heat	27	Jul 2025	Aug 8, 2007 · 1 death
Extreme cold & wind chill	12	Jan 2014	Feb 5, 1996 · 1 death
Heavy snow & winter storms	11	Jan 2025	Jan 27, 2000 · $25,000 damage
Flooding	10	May 2025	—
High winds	7	Jan 2013	Mar 12, 2001 · 1 death · $14,000 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 Tuscaloosa forecast zone and Tuscaloosa County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Vance?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBMX (Birmingham, AL), about 26 miles east. 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 Vance	View
KBMX Birmingham, AL	26 mi east	1,600 ft	Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KGWX Columbus AFB, MS	81 mi northwest	7,000 ft	Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KMXX Maxwell AFB, AL	94 mi east-southeast	8,800 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 Vance

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 129 tornadoes within 25 miles of Vance, 44 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in March and April. The strongest was an F5 on March 3, 1966, which passed about 18 miles northwest of town and caused 58 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on March 15, 2025, which passed about 24 miles northwest of town.

Hail: 211 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 14 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on April 25, 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 Vance'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.

Vance radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Vance, AL?

KBMX (Birmingham, AL), about 26 miles east. KGWX (Columbus AFB, MS) is 81 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Vance?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Vance the lowest scan from KBMX is about 1,600 ft up.

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

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