Hawthorne, FL Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for HawthorneWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Hawthorne?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 238 days in the Eastern Alachua forecast zone and Alachua County — the most common reported hazard around Hawthorne, mostly in June and July. Next come flooding (25 days) and lightning casualties & damage (23 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds238May 2026Jul 5, 2015 · 1 death
Flooding25Jun 2024Jun 7, 2017 · $10,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage23Aug 2025Jan 25, 2011 · $200,000 damage
Wildfires17May 2026May 22, 2020 · $25,000 damage
Flash flooding11Sep 2023Jul 6, 1996 · $500,000 damage
Hurricanes & tropical storms5Oct 2024—
High winds2Apr 2022Feb 6, 2020 · $5,000 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 Eastern Alachua forecast zone and Alachua County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Hawthorne?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KJAX (Jacksonville, FL), about 66 miles north-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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over HawthorneView
KJAX
Jacksonville, FL		66 mi north-northeast5,200 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KVAX
Moody AFB, GA		105 mi north-northwest10,300 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KTBW
Tampa, FL		132 mi south14,800 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 Hawthorne

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 70 tornadoes within 25 miles of Hawthorne, 13 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in February and June. The strongest was an F2 on December 5, 1977, which passed about 24 miles east of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on December 8, 2021, which touched down about 24 miles north of town.

Hail: 97 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 11 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 13, 2007.

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 Hawthorne'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.

Hawthorne radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Hawthorne, FL?

KJAX (Jacksonville, FL), about 66 miles north-northeast. KVAX (Moody AFB, GA) is 105 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Hawthorne?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Hawthorne the lowest scan from KJAX is about 5,200 ft up — good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly.

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

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