Lexington-Fayette, KY Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lexington-Fayette, Fayette County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lexington-Fayette?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 146 days in the Fayette forecast zone and Fayette County — the most common reported hazard around Lexington-Fayette, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (40 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (30 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 146 | Apr 2026 | Aug 9, 2000 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 40 | Jun 2026 | Sep 23, 2006 · 2 deaths |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 30 | Jan 2026 | Jan 24, 2026 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 13 | Feb 2025 | May 2, 2010 · $100,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 13 | Aug 2023 | May 25, 2006 · 1 death |
| High winds | 12 | Sep 2024 | Apr 2, 2016 · $20,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Feb 2022 | Feb 15, 2003 · $18 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 3 | Jan 2016 | Jan 11, 2016 · 1 death |
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 Fayette forecast zone and Fayette County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Lexington-Fayette get?
A normal year brings about 15 inches of snow to Lexington-Fayette, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Lexington Bluegrass Ap weather station 8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (4.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.4 | 1.9 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 2.8 | 0.2 | 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 Lexington-Fayette?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KJKL (Jackson, KY), about 70 miles east-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 Lexington-Fayette | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KJKL Jackson, KY | 70 mi east-southeast | 5,700 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLVX Louisville, KY | 81 mi west | 7,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KILN Wilmington, OH | 101 mi north-northeast | 9,800 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 Lexington-Fayette
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 73 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lexington-Fayette, 25 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on April 3, 1974, which passed about 15 miles southeast of town and caused 7 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on October 19, 2025, which touched down about 14 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 197 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 24 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on July 10, 1966.
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 Lexington-Fayette'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.
Lexington-Fayette radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lexington-Fayette, KY?
KJKL (Jackson, KY), about 70 miles east-southeast. KLVX (Louisville, KY) is 81 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lexington-Fayette?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lexington-Fayette the lowest scan from KJKL is about 5,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Lexington-Fayette 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 Lexington-Fayette, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Nicholasville, KY radar 12 mi
- Midway, KY radar 14 mi
- Versailles, KY radar 15 mi
- Winchester, KY radar 15 mi
- Paris, KY radar 15 mi
- Georgetown, KY radar 16 mi
- Wilmore, KY radar 16 mi
- Richmond, KY radar 23 mi
- Lawrenceburg, KY radar 24 mi
- Frankfort, KY radar 25 mi