Highland City, FL Live Doppler Radar

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

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What weather hits Highland City?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 160 days in the Polk forecast zone and Polk County — the most common reported hazard around Highland City, mostly in June and July. Next come lightning casualties & damage (40 days) and flooding (30 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds160Jun 2024Jul 28, 2010 · $900,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage40Jun 2018Jul 6, 1998 · 2 deaths
Flooding30Aug 2015Jul 1, 2005 · $1.6 million damage
Hurricanes & tropical storms25Oct 2024Sep 10, 2017 · 3 deaths · $162 million damage
Wildfires13Apr 2017Feb 15, 2017 · $1.1 million damage
Flash flooding8Apr 2008Dec 13, 1997 · $750,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill7Oct 2008Jan 25, 2003 · $1.0 million damage
High winds5Sep 2004Aug 13, 2004 · 1 death · $749 million 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 Polk forecast zone and Polk County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Highland City?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KTBW (Tampa, FL), about 37 miles west-southwest. 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 Highland CityView
KTBW
Tampa, FL		37 mi west-southwest2,400 ftExcellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KMLB
Melbourne, FL		75 mi east6,300 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KJAX
Jacksonville, FL		175 mi north23,300 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 Highland City

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 206 tornadoes within 25 miles of Highland City, 24 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F4 on April 4, 1966, which passed about 12 miles north-northwest of town and caused 11 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on August 8, 2025, which touched down about 24 miles west of town.

Hail: 163 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 March 30, 1996.

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 Highland City'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.

Highland City radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Highland City, FL?

KTBW (Tampa, FL), about 37 miles west-southwest. KMLB (Melbourne, FL) is 75 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Highland City?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Highland City the lowest scan from KTBW is about 2,400 ft up — excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground.

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

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