Carlisle, KY Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Carlisle, Nicholas County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Carlisle?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 46 days in the Nicholas forecast zone and Nicholas County — the most common reported hazard around Carlisle, mostly in July and June. Next come flooding (37 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (24 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 46 | Jun 2026 | Feb 6, 2008 · $300,000 damage |
| Flooding | 37 | May 2020 | Mar 1, 1997 · $450,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 24 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 20 | Jul 2023 | Jul 30, 2021 · 1 death · $1.0 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Feb 2022 | — |
| High winds | 5 | Sep 2024 | Apr 2, 2016 · $5,000 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 Nicholas forecast zone and Nicholas County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Carlisle?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KJKL (Jackson, KY), about 64 miles southeast. 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 Carlisle | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KJKL Jackson, KY | 64 mi southeast | 5,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KILN Wilmington, OH | 77 mi north | 6,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLVX Louisville, KY | 106 mi west-southwest | 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 Carlisle
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 49 tornadoes within 25 miles of Carlisle, 10 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and June. The strongest was an F4 on April 3, 1974, which passed about 20 miles south of town and caused 7 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on September 22, 2025, which passed about 24 miles north of town.
Hail: 108 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 8 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on May 19, 2022.
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 Carlisle'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.
Carlisle radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Carlisle, KY?
KJKL (Jackson, KY), about 64 miles southeast. KILN (Wilmington, OH) is 77 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Carlisle?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Carlisle the lowest scan from KJKL is about 5,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Carlisle 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 Carlisle, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Jeffersonville, KY radar 25 mi
- Maysville, KY radar 27 mi
- Georgetown, KY radar 27 mi