Pippa Passes, KY Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Pippa Passes, Knott County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for Pippa PassesWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Pippa Passes?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 61 days in the Knott forecast zone and Knott County — the most common reported hazard around Pippa Passes, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (38 days) and flash flooding (22 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds61May 2025Apr 11, 2008 · $50,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms38Jan 2025Feb 19, 2012 · $5,000 damage
Flash flooding22Aug 2022Jul 27, 2022 · 16 deaths
Flooding14Jan 2025Dec 6, 2013 · $2,000 damage
Excessive heat9Aug 2010—
Ice storms & sleet5Feb 2021—
High winds3Sep 2024Sep 27, 2024 · $10,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill2Feb 2015—

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 Knott forecast zone and Knott County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Pippa Passes?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KJKL (Jackson, KY), about 30 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over Pippa PassesView
KJKL
Jackson, KY		30 mi northwest1,800 ftExcellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KMRX
Knoxville, TN		86 mi south-southwest7,600 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KRLX
Charleston, WV		92 mi northeast8,500 ftFair — 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 Pippa Passes

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 6 tornadoes within 25 miles of Pippa Passes, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F2 on May 18, 1995, which passed about 4 miles west-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on October 7, 2014, which touched down about 25 miles northeast of town.

Hail: 166 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 13 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 Pippa Passes'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.

Pippa Passes radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Pippa Passes, KY?

KJKL (Jackson, KY), about 30 miles northwest. KMRX (Knoxville, TN) is 86 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Pippa Passes?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Pippa Passes the lowest scan from KJKL is about 1,800 ft up.

Is TALON's radar for Pippa Passes 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 Pippa Passes, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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