Washington, AR Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Washington, Hempstead County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Washington?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 114 days in the Hempstead forecast zone and Hempstead County — the most common reported hazard around Washington, mostly in May and April. Next come excessive heat (75 days) and flash flooding (38 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 114 | Jun 2026 | Jun 2, 2004 · $300,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 75 | Aug 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 38 | Jun 2026 | Oct 13, 2009 · $250,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 15 | Jan 2026 | Feb 16, 2021 · $225,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 7 | Jan 2026 | Jan 7, 2010 · $100,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Dec 2000 | Dec 12, 2000 · $40 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 4 | May 2024 | May 22, 2024 · $50,000 damage |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 2 | Aug 2020 | Sep 13, 2008 · $100,000 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 Hempstead forecast zone and Hempstead County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Washington get?
A normal year brings about 2.1 inches of snow to Washington, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Hope 3 Ne weather station 8.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (1.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 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 Washington?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KSHV (Shreveport, LA), about 92 miles south. 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 Washington | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KSHV Shreveport, LA | 92 mi south | 8,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLZK Little Rock, AR | 109 mi northeast | 11,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KSRX Fort Smith, AR | 112 mi north-northwest | 11,400 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 Washington
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 87 tornadoes within 25 miles of Washington, 28 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on March 1, 1997, which passed about 22 miles east-northeast of town and caused 6 deaths. The most recent was an EF2 on April 5, 2025, which passed about 7 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 354 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 46 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on March 31, 2008.
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 Washington'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.
Washington radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Washington, AR?
KSHV (Shreveport, LA), about 92 miles south. KLZK (Little Rock, AR) is 109 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Washington?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Washington the lowest scan from KSHV is about 8,400 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Washington 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 Washington, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Hope, AR radar 9 mi
- Nashville, AR radar 15 mi
- Mineral Springs, AR radar 15 mi
- Prescott, AR radar 17 mi
- Murfreesboro, AR radar 21 mi
- Ashdown, AR radar 26 mi
- Texarkana, AR radar 29 mi
- Stamps, AR radar 31 mi
- Gurdon, AR radar 32 mi
- Waldo, AR radar 37 mi