Lake Sarasota, FL Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Lake SarasotaWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Lake Sarasota?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 57 days in the Inland Sarasota forecast zone and Sarasota County — the most common reported hazard around Lake Sarasota, mostly in June and March. Next come flooding (28 days) and lightning casualties & damage (26 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds57Jun 2025Dec 26, 1998 · 1 death · $30,000 damage
Flooding28Jun 2024Aug 26, 2017 · 1 death · $50,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage26Jul 2020Jun 24, 2018 · 1 death
Flash flooding10Oct 2024Nov 13, 1997 · $2.3 million damage
Hurricanes & tropical storms7Oct 2024Sep 10, 2017 · $10 million damage
Wildfires6May 2017Apr 29, 2000 · $250,000 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 Inland Sarasota forecast zone and Sarasota County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Lake Sarasota?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KTBW (Tampa, FL), about 28 miles north. 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 Lake SarasotaView
KTBW
Tampa, FL		28 mi north1,700 ftExcellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KMLB
Melbourne, FL		123 mi east-northeast13,200 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KAMX
Miami, FL		171 mi southeast22,400 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 Lake Sarasota

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 181 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lake Sarasota, 19 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and June. The strongest was an F3 on March 17, 1985, which passed about 15 miles south of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on October 11, 2023, which touched down about 4 miles east-southeast of town.

Hail: 48 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 1 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.00-inch hail on May 27, 1969.

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 Lake Sarasota'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.

Lake Sarasota radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Lake Sarasota, FL?

KTBW (Tampa, FL), about 28 miles north. KMLB (Melbourne, FL) is 123 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Lake Sarasota?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Lake Sarasota the lowest scan from KTBW is about 1,700 ft up — excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground.

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

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