Payne Gap, KY Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Payne Gap, Letcher County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Payne Gap?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 84 days in the Letcher forecast zone and Letcher County — the most common reported hazard around Payne Gap, mostly in June and May. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (73 days) and flash flooding (38 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 84 | Dec 2025 | May 8, 2009 · $50,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 73 | Mar 2026 | Mar 14, 1999 · $3,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 38 | Aug 2022 | Jul 28, 2022 · 3 deaths |
| Flooding | 25 | May 2025 | Feb 6, 2020 · $350,000 damage |
| High winds | 8 | Sep 2024 | Apr 1, 2023 · $21,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Feb 2021 | — |
| Debris flows | 2 | Dec 2018 | Dec 21, 2018 · $500 damage |
| Excessive heat | 2 | Aug 2010 | — |
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 Letcher forecast zone and Letcher County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Payne Gap get?
A normal year brings about 38 inches of snow to Payne Gap, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Clintwood 1W weather station 9.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (11.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 1.1 | 7.6 | 11.5 | 10.5 | 6.6 | 0.8 | 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 Payne Gap?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KJKL (Jackson, KY), about 47 miles 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 Payne Gap | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KJKL Jackson, KY | 47 mi northwest | 3,200 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMRX Knoxville, TN | 79 mi south-southwest | 6,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KRLX Charleston, WV | 96 mi north-northeast | 9,000 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 Payne Gap
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 9 tornadoes within 25 miles of Payne Gap, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F2 on May 18, 1995, which passed about 21 miles northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on April 9, 2011, which touched down about 15 miles south of town.
Hail: 141 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 12 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on April 9, 2011.
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 Payne Gap'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.
Payne Gap radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Payne Gap, KY?
KJKL (Jackson, KY), about 47 miles northwest. KMRX (Knoxville, TN) is 79 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Payne Gap?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Payne Gap the lowest scan from KJKL is about 3,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Payne Gap 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 Payne Gap, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Jenkins, KY radar 2 mi
- Whitesburg, KY radar 9 mi
- Wheelwright, KY radar 13 mi
- Cumberland, KY radar 21 mi
- Pikeville, KY radar 24 mi
- Coal Run Village, KY radar 27 mi
- Hazard, KY radar 30 mi
- Prestonsburg, KY radar 37 mi
- Harlan, KY radar 42 mi
- Salyersville, KY radar 46 mi