Lake Hamilton, AR Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lake Hamilton, Garland County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lake Hamilton?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 162 days in the Garland forecast zone and Garland County — the most common reported hazard around Lake Hamilton, mostly in June and May. Next come flash flooding (59 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (22 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 162 | Jun 2026 | Apr 15, 2011 · 2 deaths · $15,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 59 | Mar 2026 | Apr 25, 2011 · $400,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 22 | Jan 2026 | Dec 25, 2012 · $12 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 22 | Nov 2019 | Aug 11, 2006 · 1 death |
| Excessive heat | 11 | Jul 2015 | Jul 24, 2015 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 7 | Feb 2018 | May 1, 2011 · $4.0 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Feb 2023 | Feb 4, 2014 · $700,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 6 | Jan 2014 | — |
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 Garland forecast zone and Garland County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Lake Hamilton get?
A normal year brings about 1.1 inches of snow to Lake Hamilton, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Hot Springs 1 Nne weather station 6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (0.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 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 Hamilton?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLZK (Little Rock, AR), about 54 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 Lake Hamilton | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLZK Little Rock, AR | 54 mi east-northeast | 4,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KSRX Fort Smith, AR | 94 mi northwest | 8,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KSHV Shreveport, LA | 144 mi south-southwest | 16,900 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 Hamilton
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 106 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lake Hamilton, 33 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and March. The strongest was an F4 on March 1, 1997, which passed about 20 miles south of town and caused 6 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on October 18, 2025, which touched down about 11 miles south of town.
Hail: 403 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 44 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on March 29, 1976.
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 Hamilton'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 Hamilton radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lake Hamilton, AR?
KLZK (Little Rock, AR), about 54 miles east-northeast. KSRX (Fort Smith, AR) is 94 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lake Hamilton?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lake Hamilton the lowest scan from KLZK is about 4,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Lake Hamilton 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 Hamilton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Hot Springs, AR radar 4 mi
- Malvern, AR radar 15 mi
- Arkadelphia, AR radar 21 mi
- Haskell, AR radar 25 mi
- Glenwood, AR radar 27 mi
- Benton, AR radar 30 mi
- Mount Ida, AR radar 33 mi
- Bryant, AR radar 36 mi
- Gurdon, AR radar 36 mi
- Sheridan, AR radar 37 mi