Blackey, KY Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Blackey, Letcher County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Blackey?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 84 days in the Letcher forecast zone and Letcher County — the most common reported hazard around Blackey, mostly in June and May. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (73 days) and flash flooding (38 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 84 | Dec 2025 | May 8, 2009 · $50,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 73 | Mar 2026 | Mar 14, 1999 · $3,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 38 | Aug 2022 | Jul 28, 2022 · 3 deaths |
| Flooding | 25 | May 2025 | Feb 6, 2020 · $350,000 damage |
| High winds | 8 | Sep 2024 | Apr 1, 2023 · $21,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Feb 2021 | — |
| Debris flows | 2 | Dec 2018 | Dec 21, 2018 · $500 damage |
| Excessive heat | 2 | Aug 2010 | — |
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 Letcher forecast zone and Letcher County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Blackey get?
A normal year brings about 17 inches of snow to Blackey, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Skyline 1 Se weather station 3.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (5.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.3 | 3.6 | 5.3 | 4.2 | 3.1 | 0.1 | 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 Blackey?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KJKL (Jackson, KY), about 36 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 Blackey | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KJKL Jackson, KY | 36 mi north-northwest | 2,300 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KMRX Knoxville, TN | 71 mi south-southwest | 5,800 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KRLX Charleston, WV | 107 mi northeast | 10,600 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 Blackey
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 10 tornadoes within 25 miles of Blackey, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F2 on May 18, 1995, which passed about 15 miles north of town. The most recent was an EF1 on July 27, 2014, which touched down about 22 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 153 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 11 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on April 9, 2011.
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 Blackey'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.
Blackey radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Blackey, KY?
KJKL (Jackson, KY), about 36 miles north-northwest. KMRX (Knoxville, TN) is 71 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Blackey?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Blackey the lowest scan from KJKL is about 2,300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Blackey 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 Blackey, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Whitesburg, KY radar 9 mi
- Cumberland, KY radar 10 mi
- Hazard, KY radar 14 mi
- Jenkins, KY radar 19 mi
- Wheelwright, KY radar 20 mi
- Harlan, KY radar 28 mi
- Pikeville, KY radar 34 mi
- Coal Run Village, KY radar 36 mi
- Jackson, KY radar 37 mi
- Prestonsburg, KY radar 40 mi