Thornton, AR Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Thornton, Calhoun County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Thornton?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 61 days in the Calhoun forecast zone and Calhoun County — the most common reported hazard around Thornton, mostly in May and April. Next come flooding (47 days) and flash flooding (28 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 61 | Apr 2025 | Oct 9, 2009 · $450,000 damage |
| Flooding | 47 | Jun 2025 | May 1, 2011 · $1.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 28 | Sep 2025 | Sep 2, 2008 · $500,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 12 | Jan 2024 | — |
| Excessive heat | 10 | Sep 2012 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Jan 2025 | — |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 3 | Aug 2020 | Sep 13, 2008 · $375,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 3 | Oct 2011 | — |
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 Calhoun forecast zone and Calhoun County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Thornton get?
A normal year brings about 1.2 inches of snow to Thornton, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Fordyce weather station 6.1 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 | 0.5 | 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 Thornton?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLZK (Little Rock, AR), about 74 miles north. 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 Thornton | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLZK Little Rock, AR | 74 mi north | 6,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KSHV Shreveport, LA | 120 mi southwest | 12,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KSRX Fort Smith, AR | 149 mi northwest | 18,100 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 Thornton
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 59 tornadoes within 25 miles of Thornton, 18 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in December and May. The strongest was an F3 on April 8, 1979, which passed about 17 miles south-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on July 8, 2024, which passed about 17 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 147 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 13 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 6, 2001.
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 Thornton'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.
Thornton radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Thornton, AR?
KLZK (Little Rock, AR), about 74 miles north. KSHV (Shreveport, LA) is 120 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Thornton?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Thornton the lowest scan from KLZK is about 6,200 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Thornton 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 Thornton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Fordyce, AR radar 5 mi
- Hampton, AR radar 17 mi
- Camden, AR radar 25 mi
- Warren, AR radar 27 mi
- Smackover, AR radar 32 mi
- Sheridan, AR radar 38 mi
- Star City, AR radar 39 mi
- Gurdon, AR radar 39 mi
- El Dorado, AR radar 40 mi
- Pine Bluff, AR radar 40 mi