Central City, AR Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Central City, Sebastian County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Central City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 199 days in the North and Central Sebastian forecast zone and Sebastian County — the most common reported hazard around Central City, mostly in May and June. Next come flash flooding (76 days) and flooding (8 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 199 | Jun 2026 | Aug 1, 2003 · $250,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 76 | May 2025 | Aug 24, 2019 · 1 death · $400,000 damage |
| Flooding | 8 | Feb 2023 | May 22, 2019 · 1 death |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 7 | Aug 2014 | Jul 13, 2011 · $200,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 1 | May 1998 | — |
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 North and Central Sebastian forecast zone and Sebastian County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Central City get?
A normal year brings about 2.9 inches of snow to Central City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Ft Smith Rgnl Ap weather station 7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (1.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 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 Central City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KSRX (Fort Smith, AR), about 8 miles west-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 Central City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KSRX Fort Smith, AR | 8 mi west-southwest | 400 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KINX Tulsa, OK | 94 mi northwest | 8,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLZK Little Rock, AR | 117 mi east-southeast | 12,200 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 Central City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 126 tornadoes within 25 miles of Central City, 30 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F5 on March 26, 1976, which passed about 16 miles west-southwest of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on June 6, 2025, which passed about 18 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 517 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 59 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on March 26, 2000.
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 Central City'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.
Central City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Central City, AR?
KSRX (Fort Smith, AR), about 8 miles west-southwest. KINX (Tulsa, OK) is 94 miles away and also covers the area.
Can radar see a tornado near Central City?
Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Central City the lowest scan from KSRX is about 400 ft up — excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground.
Is TALON's radar for Central City 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 Central City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Barling, AR radar 2 mi
- Lavaca, AR radar 3 mi
- Kibler, AR radar 6 mi
- Fort Smith, AR radar 8 mi
- Greenwood, AR radar 9 mi
- Van Buren, AR radar 10 mi
- Alma, AR radar 11 mi
- Charleston, AR radar 11 mi
- Mulberry, AR radar 15 mi
- Cedarville, AR radar 18 mi