Fairfield Bay, AR Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Fairfield Bay, Van Buren County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

What weather hits Fairfield Bay?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 106 days in the Southeast Van Buren County forecast zone and Van Buren County — the most common reported hazard around Fairfield Bay, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (25 days) and lightning casualties & damage (6 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds106May 2026Feb 11, 2009 · $500,000 damage
Flash flooding25Jun 2025Mar 18, 2008 · $1.0 million damage
Lightning casualties & damage6Aug 2011May 13, 2008 · $20,000 damage
Flooding6Feb 2023May 1, 2011 · $1.8 million damage
Heavy snow & winter storms3Jan 2026—
Ice storms & sleet1Jan 2023—

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 Southeast Van Buren County forecast zone and Van Buren County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

How much snow does Fairfield Bay get?

A normal year brings about 2.8 inches of snow to Fairfield Bay, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Clinton weather station 10.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (1.0 in).

OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMay
0.00.10.20.71.00.80.00.0

Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.

Which radars cover Fairfield Bay?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLZK (Little Rock, AR), about 53 miles south. 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 Fairfield BayView
KLZK
Little Rock, AR
53 mi south3,800 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KSRX
Fort Smith, AR
120 mi west12,700 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KSGF
Springfield, MO
129 mi north-northwest14,300 ftLimited — 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 Fairfield Bay

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 98 tornadoes within 25 miles of Fairfield Bay, 51 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and November. The strongest was an EF4 on February 5, 2008, which passed about 5 miles northwest of town and caused 13 deaths. The most recent was an EF4 on March 14, 2025, which passed about 21 miles north-northwest of town.

Hail: 238 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 19 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 25, 2023.

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 Fairfield Bay'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.

Fairfield Bay radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Fairfield Bay, AR?

KLZK (Little Rock, AR), about 53 miles south. KSRX (Fort Smith, AR) is 120 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Fairfield Bay?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Fairfield Bay the lowest scan from KLZK is about 3,800 ft up — good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly.

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

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