Jackson, KY Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Jackson, Breathitt County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Jackson?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 172 days in the Breathitt forecast zone and Breathitt County — the most common reported hazard around Jackson, mostly in June and May. Next come flash flooding (51 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (47 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 172 | Mar 2026 | Jun 24, 2019 · $70,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 51 | May 2025 | Jul 27, 2022 · 11 deaths |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 47 | Jan 2026 | Dec 18, 2009 · $7,000 damage |
| Flooding | 41 | May 2025 | Jan 23, 1999 · 1 death · $1,000 damage |
| High winds | 8 | Sep 2024 | Sep 27, 2024 · $27,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Feb 2021 | Dec 5, 2002 · $1,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 4 | Aug 2010 | — |
| Debris flows | 3 | Feb 2023 | — |
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 Breathitt forecast zone and Breathitt County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Jackson get?
A normal year brings about 23 inches of snow to Jackson, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Jackson weather station 3.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (7.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.7 | 4.1 | 7.4 | 6.7 | 4.0 | 0.4 | 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 Jackson?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KJKL (Jackson, KY), about 4 miles east-northeast. 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 Jackson | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KJKL Jackson, KY | 4 mi east-northeast | 200 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KMRX Knoxville, TN | 97 mi south | 9,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KRLX Charleston, WV | 104 mi east-northeast | 10,200 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 Jackson
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 20 tornadoes within 25 miles of Jackson, 5 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and February. The strongest was an EF3 on March 2, 2012, which passed about 11 miles north-northeast of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on February 6, 2025, which touched down about 25 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 186 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 20 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on March 2, 2012.
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 Jackson'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.
Jackson radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Jackson, KY?
KJKL (Jackson, KY), about 4 miles east-northeast. KMRX (Knoxville, TN) is 97 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Jackson?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Jackson the lowest scan from KJKL is about 200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Jackson 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 Jackson, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Beattyville, KY radar 18 mi
- Salyersville, KY radar 21 mi
- Hazard, KY radar 23 mi
- West Liberty, KY radar 25 mi
- Stanton, KY radar 33 mi
- Irvine, KY radar 34 mi
- Prestonsburg, KY radar 34 mi
- Paintsville, KY radar 36 mi
- Manchester, KY radar 36 mi
- Clay City, KY radar 37 mi