Forrest City, AR Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Forrest City, St. Francis County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Forrest City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged dangerous heat on 129 days in the St. Francis forecast zone and St. Francis County — the most common reported hazard around Forrest City, mostly in July and August. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (54 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (31 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excessive heat | 129 | Jun 2026 | Jul 27, 2011 · 1 death |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 54 | May 2025 | Apr 15, 2011 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 31 | Jan 2026 | Dec 13, 2000 · $100,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 16 | Apr 2026 | Jun 29, 2014 · $500,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 10 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 5 | Jan 2016 | Jan 3, 2016 · 1 death |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Feb 2022 | Dec 23, 1998 · $1,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 2 | Apr 2022 | May 9, 2007 · $90,000 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 St. Francis forecast zone and St. Francis County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Forrest City get?
A normal year brings about 1.9 inches of snow to Forrest City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Madison 1 Nw weather station 3.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (1.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 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 Forrest City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KNQA (Memphis, TN), about 57 miles east-northeast. 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 Forrest City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KNQA Memphis, TN | 57 mi east-northeast | 4,200 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLZK Little Rock, AR | 84 mi west | 7,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KGWX Columbus AFB, MS | 160 mi east-southeast | 20,200 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 Forrest City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 68 tornadoes within 25 miles of Forrest City, 25 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on March 21, 1952, which passed about 18 miles west-northwest of town and caused 29 deaths. The most recent was an EF2 on April 5, 2025, which passed about 8 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 124 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 12 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on April 2, 2025.
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 Forrest 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.
Forrest City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Forrest City, AR?
KNQA (Memphis, TN), about 57 miles east-northeast. KLZK (Little Rock, AR) is 84 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Forrest City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Forrest City the lowest scan from KNQA is about 4,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Forrest 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 Forrest City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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