Lake Wales, FL Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Lake Wales What TALON shows

What weather hits Lake Wales?

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 Lake Wales, mostly in June and July. Next come lightning casualties & damage (40 days) and flooding (30 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds	160	Jun 2024	Jul 28, 2010 · $900,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage	40	Jun 2018	Jul 6, 1998 · 2 deaths
Flooding	30	Aug 2015	Jul 1, 2005 · $1.6 million damage
Hurricanes & tropical storms	25	Oct 2024	Sep 10, 2017 · 3 deaths · $162 million damage
Wildfires	13	Apr 2017	Feb 15, 2017 · $1.1 million damage
Flash flooding	8	Apr 2008	Dec 13, 1997 · $750,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill	7	Oct 2008	Jan 25, 2003 · $1.0 million damage
High winds	5	Sep 2004	Aug 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 Lake Wales?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KTBW (Tampa, FL), about 51 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.

Radar	Distance	Lowest beam over Lake Wales	View
KTBW Tampa, FL	51 mi west-southwest	3,700 ft	Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KMLB Melbourne, FL	59 mi east-northeast	4,500 ft	Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KAMX Miami, FL	176 mi south-southeast	23,500 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 Lake Wales

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 166 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lake Wales, 17 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on April 4, 1966, which passed about 19 miles north-northwest of town and caused 11 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on October 9, 2024, which touched down about 23 miles south-southeast of town.

Hail: 131 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 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 Lake Wales'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 Wales radar FAQ

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

KTBW (Tampa, FL), about 51 miles west-southwest. KMLB (Melbourne, FL) is 59 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Lake Wales?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Lake Wales the lowest scan from KTBW is about 3,700 ft up — good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly.

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

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