La Center, KY Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for La Center, Ballard County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits La Center?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 102 days in the Ballard forecast zone and Ballard County — the most common reported hazard around La Center, mostly in July and June. Next come excessive heat (86 days) and flooding (65 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 102 | Apr 2026 | Mar 1, 2017 · $225,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 86 | Aug 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 65 | Mar 2025 | Mar 2, 1997 · $25 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 40 | Jan 2026 | Feb 11, 2008 · $500,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 32 | Feb 2025 | Dec 21, 2013 · 1 death · $10,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 17 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 10 | Dec 2023 | Jan 26, 2009 · $10 million damage |
| High winds | 7 | Feb 2009 | Sep 14, 2008 · $8.0 million 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 Ballard forecast zone and Ballard County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does La Center get?
A normal year brings about 7.2 inches of snow to La Center, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Grand Chain Dam 53 weather station 9.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (2.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 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 La Center?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPAH (Paducah, KY), about 11 miles east. 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 La Center | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPAH Paducah, KY | 11 mi east | 600 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KHPX Fort Campbell, KY | 96 mi east-southeast | 9,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KVWX Evansville, IN | 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 La Center
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 109 tornadoes within 25 miles of La Center, 30 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on May 6, 2003, which passed about 14 miles north-northwest of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF2 on April 2, 2025, which passed about 11 miles south of town.
Hail: 229 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 17 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 16, 2025.
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 La Center'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.
La Center radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to La Center, KY?
KPAH (Paducah, KY), about 11 miles east. KHPX (Fort Campbell, KY) is 96 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in La Center?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over La Center the lowest scan from KPAH is about 600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for La Center 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 La Center, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Paducah, KY radar 18 mi
- Clinton, KY radar 28 mi
- Mayfield, KY radar 30 mi
- Calvert City, KY radar 32 mi
- Hickman, KY radar 37 mi
- Benton, KY radar 37 mi
- Fulton, KY radar 39 mi
- Murray, KY radar 48 mi
- Eddyville, KY radar 50 mi
- Marion, KY radar 52 mi