Manasota Key, FL Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Manasota Key What TALON shows

What weather hits Manasota Key?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 50 days in the Coastal Charlotte forecast zone and Charlotte County — the most common reported hazard around Manasota Key, mostly in June and August. Next come lightning casualties & damage (24 days) and hurricanes & tropical storms (10 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds	50	May 2026	Jan 17, 2016 · $225,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage	24	Aug 2019	Mar 29, 2001 · 2 deaths · $50,000 damage
Hurricanes & tropical storms	10	Oct 2024	Sep 28, 2022 · 8 deaths · $3.0 billion damage
Flooding	7	Jul 1999	Jul 1, 1999 · $75,000 damage
Flash flooding	5	Sep 2003	Jun 22, 2003 · $3.3 million damage
Wildfires	5	Apr 2000	Apr 7, 2000 · $30,000 damage
Storm surge	3	Oct 2024	Sep 10, 2017 · $20 million damage
High winds	1	Dec 2021	—

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 Coastal Charlotte forecast zone and Charlotte County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Manasota Key?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KTBW (Tampa, FL), about 54 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.

Radar	Distance	Lowest beam over Manasota Key	View
KTBW Tampa, FL	54 mi north	4,000 ft	Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KMLB Melbourne, FL	133 mi northeast	14,900 ft	Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KAMX Miami, FL	151 mi southeast	18,300 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 Manasota Key

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 120 tornadoes within 25 miles of Manasota Key, 13 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and September. The strongest was an F3 on March 17, 1985, which passed about 11 miles north-northwest of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on October 9, 2024, which touched down about 10 miles east-northeast of town.

Hail: 31 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 July 10, 1992.

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 Manasota Key'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.

Manasota Key radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Manasota Key, FL?

KTBW (Tampa, FL), about 54 miles north. KMLB (Melbourne, FL) is 133 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Manasota Key?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Manasota Key the lowest scan from KTBW is about 4,000 ft up — good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly.

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

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