Elkhorn City, KY Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Elkhorn City, Pike County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Elkhorn City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 155 days in the Pike forecast zone and Pike County — the most common reported hazard around Elkhorn City, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (72 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (58 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 155 | May 2025 | Aug 5, 2010 · 1 death · $20,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 72 | Jun 2025 | Aug 3, 2001 · 2 deaths · $6.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 58 | Mar 2026 | Dec 18, 2009 · $100,000 damage |
| Flooding | 33 | Apr 2024 | May 2, 2002 · 1 death · $5.3 million damage |
| High winds | 11 | Sep 2024 | Apr 12, 2020 · $205,000 damage |
| Debris flows | 8 | Aug 2021 | Aug 30, 2021 · $5,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Feb 2021 | — |
| 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 Pike forecast zone and Pike County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Elkhorn City get?
A normal year brings about 7.7 inches of snow to Elkhorn City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Fedscreek 1 Se weather station 7.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (3.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.1 | 3.8 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 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 Elkhorn City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KJKL (Jackson, KY), about 56 miles west-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 Elkhorn City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KJKL Jackson, KY | 56 mi west-northwest | 4,100 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KRLX Charleston, WV | 77 mi north-northeast | 6,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMRX Knoxville, TN | 99 mi southwest | 9,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
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 Elkhorn City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 6 tornadoes within 25 miles of Elkhorn City, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an EF2 on May 8, 2009, which touched down about 19 miles south-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on October 7, 2014, which touched down about 24 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 164 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 24 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.50-inch hail on June 5, 1977.
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 Elkhorn City'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.
Elkhorn City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Elkhorn City, KY?
KJKL (Jackson, KY), about 56 miles west-northwest. KRLX (Charleston, WV) is 77 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Elkhorn City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Elkhorn City the lowest scan from KJKL is about 4,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Elkhorn City 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 Elkhorn City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Pikeville, KY radar 15 mi
- Coal Run Village, KY radar 18 mi
- Jenkins, KY radar 19 mi
- Wheelwright, KY radar 20 mi
- Whitesburg, KY radar 29 mi
- Prestonsburg, KY radar 34 mi
- Cumberland, KY radar 42 mi
- Paintsville, KY radar 43 mi
- Hazard, KY radar 47 mi
- Salyersville, KY radar 49 mi