Lake City, AR Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lake City, Craighead County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lake City?
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 Lake City, mostly in May and April. Next come excessive heat (117 days) and flash flooding (66 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 133 | Apr 2026 | Jun 5, 2014 · 1 death |
| Excessive heat | 117 | Jun 2026 | Aug 21, 2010 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 66 | Jun 2026 | May 24, 2009 · 2 deaths · $25,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 34 | Jan 2026 | Dec 13, 2000 · $100,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 11 | Feb 2026 | Dec 15, 2008 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 8 | Feb 2019 | Mar 1, 1997 · $500,000 damage |
| High winds | 8 | Mar 2025 | Jan 31, 2002 · $20,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 6 | Jul 2022 | Jul 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 Lake City get?
A normal year brings about 3.9 inches of snow to Lake City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Jonesboro 2 Ne weather station 11.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (1.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 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 Lake City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KNQA (Memphis, TN), about 46 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.
| Radar | Distance | Lowest beam over Lake City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KNQA Memphis, TN | 46 mi southeast | 3,200 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLZK Little Rock, AR | 123 mi west-southwest | 13,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KPAH Paducah, KY | 127 mi northeast | 14,000 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 Lake City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 130 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lake City, 45 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. 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 4 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 275 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 22 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 Lake 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.
Lake City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lake City, AR?
KNQA (Memphis, TN), about 46 miles southeast. KLZK (Little Rock, AR) is 123 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lake City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lake City the lowest scan from KNQA is about 3,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Lake 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 Lake City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Brookland, AR radar 9 mi
- Trumann, AR radar 11 mi
- Jonesboro, AR radar 13 mi
- Leachville, AR radar 13 mi
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- Paragould, AR radar 16 mi
- Manila, AR radar 17 mi