McKinney, KY Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for McKinney, Lincoln County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits McKinney?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 84 days in the Lincoln forecast zone and Lincoln County — the most common reported hazard around McKinney, mostly in May and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (24 days) and flash flooding (21 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 84 | Apr 2026 | Apr 28, 2002 · $200,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 24 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 21 | Jul 2022 | May 2, 2010 · 1 death · $30,000 damage |
| High winds | 5 | Sep 2024 | Nov 16, 2010 · $15,000 damage |
| Flooding | 3 | Dec 2015 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 2 | Feb 2021 | — |
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 Lincoln forecast zone and Lincoln County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover McKinney?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLVX (Louisville, KY), about 74 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 McKinney | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLVX Louisville, KY | 74 mi west-northwest | 6,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KJKL Jackson, KY | 80 mi east | 6,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMRX Knoxville, TN | 116 mi southeast | 12,100 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 McKinney
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 71 tornadoes within 25 miles of McKinney, 18 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on April 3, 1974, which passed about 23 miles northeast of town and caused 7 deaths. The most recent was an EF2 on May 30, 2025, which passed about 18 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 195 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 21 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 McKinney'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.
McKinney radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to McKinney, KY?
KLVX (Louisville, KY), about 74 miles west-northwest. KJKL (Jackson, KY) is 80 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in McKinney?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over McKinney the lowest scan from KLVX is about 6,200 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for McKinney 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 McKinney, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Stanford, KY radar 8 mi
- Junction City, KY radar 9 mi
- Danville, KY radar 13 mi
- Liberty, KY radar 13 mi
- Lancaster, KY radar 15 mi
- Brodhead, KY radar 19 mi
- Burgin, KY radar 21 mi
- Harrodsburg, KY radar 22 mi
- Mount Vernon, KY radar 24 mi
- Somerset, KY radar 27 mi