Jonesboro, AR Live Doppler Radar

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

What weather hits Jonesboro?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 133 days in the Craighead forecast zone and Craighead County — the most common reported hazard around Jonesboro, mostly in May and April. Next come excessive heat (117 days) and flash flooding (66 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds133Apr 2026Jun 5, 2014 · 1 death
Excessive heat117Jun 2026Aug 21, 2010 · 1 death
Flash flooding66Jun 2026May 24, 2009 · 2 deaths · $25,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms34Jan 2026Dec 13, 2000 · $100,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill11Feb 2026Dec 15, 2008 · 1 death
Flooding8Feb 2019Mar 1, 1997 · $500,000 damage
High winds8Mar 2025Jan 31, 2002 · $20,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage6Jul 2022Jul 5, 2001 · $50,000 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 Craighead forecast zone and Craighead County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

How much snow does Jonesboro get?

A normal year brings about 3.9 inches of snow to Jonesboro, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Jonesboro 2 Ne weather station 2.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (1.2 in).

OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMay
0.00.10.41.01.21.20.00.0

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

Which radars cover Jonesboro?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KNQA (Memphis, TN), about 56 miles southeast. 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 JonesboroView
KNQA
Memphis, TN
56 mi southeast4,100 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KLZK
Little Rock, AR
112 mi southwest11,500 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KPAH
Paducah, KY
137 mi northeast15,600 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 Jonesboro

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 135 tornadoes within 25 miles of Jonesboro, 46 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and March. The strongest was an F4 on May 15, 1968, which crossed near town and caused 35 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on May 16, 2025, which passed about 12 miles east-southeast of town.

Hail: 273 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 24 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on April 15, 2022.

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 Jonesboro'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.

Jonesboro radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Jonesboro, AR?

KNQA (Memphis, TN), about 56 miles southeast. KLZK (Little Rock, AR) is 112 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Jonesboro?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Jonesboro the lowest scan from KNQA is about 4,100 ft up.

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

Radar for nearby towns

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