Widener, AR Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Widener, St. Francis County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Widener?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged dangerous heat on 129 days in the St. Francis forecast zone and St. Francis County — the most common reported hazard around Widener, mostly in July and August. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (54 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (31 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excessive heat | 129 | Jun 2026 | Jul 27, 2011 · 1 death |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 54 | May 2025 | Apr 15, 2011 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 31 | Jan 2026 | Dec 13, 2000 · $100,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 16 | Apr 2026 | Jun 29, 2014 · $500,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 10 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 5 | Jan 2016 | Jan 3, 2016 · 1 death |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Feb 2022 | Dec 23, 1998 · $1,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 2 | Apr 2022 | May 9, 2007 · $90,000 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 St. Francis forecast zone and St. Francis County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Widener get?
A normal year brings about 1.9 inches of snow to Widener, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Madison 1 Nw weather station 3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (1.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 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 Widener?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KNQA (Memphis, TN), about 51 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 Widener | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KNQA Memphis, TN | 51 mi east-northeast | 3,600 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLZK Little Rock, AR | 90 mi west | 8,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KGWX Columbus AFB, MS | 155 mi east-southeast | 19,200 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 Widener
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 60 tornadoes within 25 miles of Widener, 23 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on March 21, 1952, which passed about 24 miles west-northwest of town and caused 29 deaths. The most recent was an EF2 on April 5, 2025, which passed about 12 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 114 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 10 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on April 2, 2025.
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 Widener'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.
Widener radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Widener, AR?
KNQA (Memphis, TN), about 51 miles east-northeast. KLZK (Little Rock, AR) is 90 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Widener?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Widener the lowest scan from KNQA is about 3,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Widener 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 Widener, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Forrest City, AR radar 6 mi
- Wynne, AR radar 16 mi
- Marianna, AR radar 18 mi
- Earle, AR radar 21 mi
- West Memphis, AR radar 29 mi
- Marion, AR radar 30 mi
- Brinkley, AR radar 30 mi
- McCrory, AR radar 33 mi
- Helena-West Helena, AR radar 34 mi
- Harrisburg, AR radar 37 mi