McRae-Helena, GA Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for McRae-Helena What TALON shows

What weather hits McRae-Helena?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 66 days in the Telfair forecast zone and Telfair County — the most common reported hazard around McRae-Helena, mostly in May and July. Next come hurricanes & tropical storms (17 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (13 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds	66	Sep 2023	Apr 5, 2011 · $250,000 damage
Hurricanes & tropical storms	17	Sep 2024	Sep 11, 2017 · $150,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill	13	Jan 2003	—
Excessive heat	11	Jul 2012	—
Flooding	9	Dec 2009	Feb 4, 1998 · $20,000 damage
Flash flooding	5	Mar 2020	Mar 27, 2005 · $100,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms	3	Jan 2018	—
Lightning casualties & damage	3	Sep 2014	Apr 9, 1998 · $50,000 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 Telfair forecast zone and Telfair County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover McRae-Helena?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KJGX (Robins AFB, GA), about 50 miles north-northwest. 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 McRae-Helena	View
KJGX Robins AFB, GA	50 mi north-northwest	3,500 ft	Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KVAX Moody AFB, GA	81 mi south	7,100 ft	Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KCLX Charleston, SC	116 mi east-northeast	12,000 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 McRae-Helena

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 55 tornadoes within 25 miles of McRae-Helena, 10 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F3 on April 8, 1957, which passed about 15 miles south of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on September 26, 2024, which touched down about 14 miles east of town.

Hail: 89 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 June 18, 1980.

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 McRae-Helena'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.

McRae-Helena radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to McRae-Helena, GA?

KJGX (Robins AFB, GA), about 50 miles north-northwest. KVAX (Moody AFB, GA) is 81 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near McRae-Helena?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over McRae-Helena the lowest scan from KJGX is about 3,500 ft up — good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly.

Is TALON's radar for McRae-Helena 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 McRae-Helena, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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