Lancaster, KY Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lancaster, Garrard County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lancaster?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 79 days in the Garrard forecast zone and Garrard County — the most common reported hazard around Lancaster, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (25 days) and flash flooding (20 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 79 | Dec 2025 | Feb 6, 2008 · $300,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 25 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 20 | Jun 2026 | Jul 19, 1996 · $2.3 million damage |
| Flooding | 7 | Feb 2019 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Feb 2022 | Feb 15, 2003 · $80,000 damage |
| High winds | 5 | Sep 2024 | Apr 2, 2016 · $5,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | Jul 2019 | Jul 2, 2019 · $3,000 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 Garrard forecast zone and Garrard County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Lancaster get?
A normal year brings about 7.4 inches of snow to Lancaster, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Crab Orchard 6 N weather station 11.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (3.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 3.0 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 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 Lancaster?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KJKL (Jackson, KY), about 69 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 Lancaster | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KJKL Jackson, KY | 69 mi east | 5,600 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLVX Louisville, KY | 78 mi west-northwest | 6,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMRX Knoxville, TN | 119 mi south-southeast | 12,600 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 Lancaster
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 74 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lancaster, 19 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on April 3, 1974, which passed about 8 miles north-northeast of town and caused 7 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on October 19, 2025, which touched down about 18 miles north of town.
Hail: 213 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 35 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 1, 2002.
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 Lancaster'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.
Lancaster radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lancaster, KY?
KJKL (Jackson, KY), about 69 miles east. KLVX (Louisville, KY) is 78 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lancaster?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lancaster the lowest scan from KJKL is about 5,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Lancaster 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 Lancaster, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Stanford, KY radar 7 mi
- Danville, KY radar 11 mi
- Junction City, KY radar 12 mi
- Burgin, KY radar 14 mi
- Berea, KY radar 16 mi
- Brodhead, KY radar 17 mi
- Richmond, KY radar 17 mi
- Harrodsburg, KY radar 18 mi
- Wilmore, KY radar 19 mi
- Nicholasville, KY radar 19 mi