La Crosse, FL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for La Crosse, Alachua County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits La Crosse?
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 La Crosse, mostly in June and July. Next come flooding (25 days) and lightning casualties & damage (23 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 238 | May 2026 | Jul 5, 2015 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 25 | Jun 2024 | Jun 7, 2017 · $10,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 23 | Aug 2025 | Jan 25, 2011 · $200,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 17 | May 2026 | May 22, 2020 · $25,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 11 | Sep 2023 | Jul 6, 1996 · $500,000 damage |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 5 | Oct 2024 | — |
| High winds | 2 | Apr 2022 | Feb 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 La Crosse?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KJAX (Jacksonville, FL), about 61 miles 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.
| Radar | Distance | Lowest beam over La Crosse | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KJAX Jacksonville, FL | 61 mi northeast | 4,600 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KVAX Moody AFB, GA | 80 mi north-northwest | 6,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KTLH Tallahassee, FL | 121 mi west-northwest | 12,900 ft | Limited — 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 La Crosse
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 89 tornadoes within 25 miles of La Crosse, 13 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and August. The strongest was an F2 on April 23, 1983, which passed about 13 miles west-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on August 4, 2024, which touched down about 12 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 95 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 10 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on March 1, 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 La Crosse'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.
La Crosse radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to La Crosse, FL?
KJAX (Jacksonville, FL), about 61 miles northeast. KVAX (Moody AFB, GA) is 80 miles away and also covers the area.
Can radar see a tornado near La Crosse?
Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over La Crosse the lowest scan from KJAX is about 4,600 ft up — good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly.
Is TALON's radar for La Crosse 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 La Crosse, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Alachua, FL radar 7 mi
- High Springs, FL radar 12 mi
- Lake Butler, FL radar 12 mi
- Gainesville, FL radar 12 mi
- Newberry, FL radar 18 mi
- Starke, FL radar 19 mi
- Keystone Heights, FL radar 22 mi
- Archer, FL radar 23 mi
- Hawthorne, FL radar 26 mi
- Lake City, FL radar 27 mi