Gainesville, GA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Gainesville, Hall County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Gainesville?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 117 days in the Hall forecast zone and Hall County — the most common reported hazard around Gainesville, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (22 days) and hurricanes & tropical storms (18 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 117 | Jun 2025 | Apr 6, 2016 · $3.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 22 | Jan 2026 | Jan 28, 2005 · $150,000 damage |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 18 | Sep 2024 | Sep 11, 2017 · $200,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 13 | Jan 2003 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 13 | Jan 2026 | Jan 22, 2000 · $980,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 13 | Jul 2020 | Jul 28, 2005 · 2 deaths · $750,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 13 | Jun 2023 | May 19, 2013 · $1.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 11 | Jul 2012 | — |
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 Hall forecast zone and Hall County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Gainesville get?
A normal year brings about 1.6 inches of snow to Gainesville, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Gainesville weather station 1.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (0.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Gainesville?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFFC (Atlanta, GA), about 77 miles south-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 Gainesville | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFFC Atlanta, GA | 77 mi south-southwest | 6,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KGSP Greer, SC | 100 mi east-northeast | 9,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KJGX Robins AFB, GA | 115 mi south-southeast | 11,900 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 Gainesville
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 86 tornadoes within 25 miles of Gainesville, 22 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and June. The strongest was an F4 on April 3, 1974, which passed about 23 miles northwest of town and caused 6 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on May 2, 2025, which touched down about 3 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 351 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 16 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on May 7, 1998.
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 Gainesville'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.
Gainesville radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Gainesville, GA?
KFFC (Atlanta, GA), about 77 miles south-southwest. KGSP (Greer, SC) is 100 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Gainesville?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Gainesville the lowest scan from KFFC is about 6,500 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Gainesville 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 Gainesville, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Oakwood, GA radar 6 mi
- Flowery Branch, GA radar 10 mi
- Lula, GA radar 12 mi
- Pendergrass, GA radar 12 mi
- Braselton, GA radar 13 mi
- Clermont, GA radar 14 mi
- Hoschton, GA radar 15 mi
- Buford, GA radar 15 mi
- Maysville, GA radar 16 mi
- Jefferson, GA radar 17 mi