Crystal River, FL Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Crystal RiverWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Crystal River?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 68 days in the Coastal Citrus forecast zone and Citrus County — the most common reported hazard around Crystal River, mostly in June and March. Next come lightning casualties & damage (23 days) and flooding (19 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds68Jul 2025Feb 23, 2004 · $300,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage23May 2020Jul 5, 2002 · 1 death
Flooding19Sep 2021Sep 15, 2021 · $10 million damage
Hurricanes & tropical storms10Oct 2024Sep 10, 2017 · $3.0 million damage
Storm surge2Oct 2018Sep 1, 2016 · $102 million damage
Wildfires2May 2000—
Flash flooding2Jun 2003Jun 20, 2003 · $502,000 damage
Coastal flooding1Jan 2017—

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

Which radars cover Crystal River?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KTBW (Tampa, FL), about 83 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over Crystal RiverView
KTBW
Tampa, FL		83 mi south7,300 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KJAX
Jacksonville, FL		122 mi north-northeast13,100 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KMLB
Melbourne, FL		130 mi east-southeast14,500 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 Crystal River

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 73 tornadoes within 25 miles of Crystal River, 6 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F3 on April 9, 1983, which passed about 14 miles southeast of town and caused 3 deaths. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 16, 2024, which touched down near town.

Hail: 59 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 2 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.00-inch hail on May 18, 2003.

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 Crystal River'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.

Crystal River radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Crystal River, FL?

KTBW (Tampa, FL), about 83 miles south. KJAX (Jacksonville, FL) is 122 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Crystal River?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Crystal River the lowest scan from KTBW is about 7,300 ft up — fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation.

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

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