Jacksonville, FL Live Doppler Radar
Watch storms move over Jacksonville in real time — every NWS radar combined, storm tracks, official warnings, and the closest radar's full 250 m detail.
Which radars cover Jacksonville?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar to Jacksonville, FL is KJAX (Jacksonville), about 11 miles to the north-northwest. Radar beams climb as they travel because the Earth curves away underneath them, so the height of the lowest scan over a city decides how much of a storm's base the radar can see.
| Radar | Distance | Lowest beam over Jacksonville | View of low-level rotation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KJAX Jacksonville, FL | 11 mi north-northwest | 600 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan is close to the ground, where tornadoes form |
| KVAX Moody AFB, GA | 89 mi west-northwest | 8,000 ft | Fair — the lowest scan is already well above the ground |
| KTLH Tallahassee, FL | 159 mi west | 20,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
Beam height is the center of the 0.5° scan above the radar, using standard atmospheric refraction. Hills and buildings near the radar can block it further.
On TALON you get Jacksonville's live radar loop, storm tracks with arrival times and NWS warnings free; close-up radar and rotation detection are part of TALON Pro.
Tornado & hail history near Jacksonville
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 126 tornadoes within 25 miles of Jacksonville, 11 of them rated EF2/F2 or stronger. They have been most common in September and June. The strongest was an F2 on May 12, 1974, which passed about 17 miles south of the city. The most recent was an EF0 on May 29, 2025, which touched down about 19 miles south-southeast of the city.
Hail: 232 reports of hail 1 inch or larger within 25 miles of Jacksonville since 1955, 11 of them 2 inches or larger. The largest was 2.75-inch hail (baseball size) on May 31, 2017.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 126 |
| EF2/F2 or stronger | 11 |
| Strongest tornado | F2 · May 1974 |
| Busiest tornado month | September |
| Largest hail | 2.75 in · May 2017 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database — tornadoes 1950–2025, hail 1955–2025 (the latest year is preliminary). Distances are to each tornado's recorded track; ratings before February 2007 use the original Fujita (F) scale.
Jacksonville radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Jacksonville?
KJAX near Jacksonville, FL, about 11 miles away. A second radar, KVAX (Moody AFB), is 89 miles away and also covers the area.
Can radar see a tornado over Jacksonville?
Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it can see the rotating storm and, once a tornado is lofting debris, a debris signature. Over Jacksonville the lowest scan from KJAX is roughly 600 ft up. Excellent — the lowest scan is close to the ground, where tornadoes form. TALON combines that with NOAA's ProbSevere model to flag storms most likely to produce tornadoes.
How often do tornadoes hit Jacksonville?
NOAA records show 126 tornadoes within 25 miles of Jacksonville since 1950 — about 1.7 a year on average, most often in September and June. Most were weak, but 11 were EF2/F2 or stronger.
Should I rely on radar for my safety?
No app replaces official warnings. When the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning for Jacksonville, take shelter right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby cities
- Orlando, FL radar 125 mi
- Tampa, FL radar 172 mi