Captiva, FL Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Captiva, Lee County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for CaptivaWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Captiva?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 102 days in the Coastal Lee forecast zone and Lee County — the most common reported hazard around Captiva, mostly in June and August. Next come lightning casualties & damage (57 days) and flooding (34 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds102May 2024Jan 15, 2016 · $300,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage57Sep 2022Aug 18, 2005 · 2 deaths
Flooding34Sep 2025Sep 10, 2017 · $500 million damage
Flash flooding11Jun 2009Jun 18, 1999 · $500,000 damage
Wildfires10Mar 2018Feb 23, 2000 · $750,000 damage
Hurricanes & tropical storms8Oct 2024Sep 28, 2022 · 60 deaths · $7.0 billion damage
Excessive heat3Jun 1998Jun 3, 1998 · 1 death
Coastal flooding2Dec 2023—

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 Coastal Lee forecast zone and Lee County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Captiva?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KTBW (Tampa, FL), about 84 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over CaptivaView
KTBW
Tampa, FL		84 mi north7,500 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KAMX
Miami, FL		126 mi east-southeast13,800 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KBYX
Key West, FL		135 mi south-southeast15,300 ftLimited — 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 Captiva

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 117 tornadoes within 25 miles of Captiva, 13 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in September and June. The strongest was an F2 on October 31, 1960, which touched down about 9 miles east-southeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on October 9, 2024, which touched down about 12 miles east of town.

Hail: 40 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 1 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.00-inch hail on May 31, 1965.

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 Captiva'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.

Captiva radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Captiva, FL?

KTBW (Tampa, FL), about 84 miles north. KAMX (Miami, FL) is 126 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Captiva?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Captiva the lowest scan from KTBW is about 7,500 ft up — fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation.

Is TALON's radar for Captiva 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 Captiva, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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