Catahoula, LA Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Catahoula, St. Martin County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for CatahoulaWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Catahoula?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 49 days in the Upper St. Martin forecast zone and St. Martin County — the most common reported hazard around Catahoula, mostly in June and April. Next come flash flooding (31 days) and hurricanes & tropical storms (11 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds49Feb 2026Jan 11, 2020 · $200,000 damage
Flash flooding31Jun 2026Aug 12, 2016 · $30 million damage
Hurricanes & tropical storms11Aug 2021Oct 9, 2020 · 1 death · $80 million damage
Flooding5Aug 2016Aug 14, 2016 · $100 million damage
Excessive heat3Aug 2023—
Heavy snow & winter storms3Jan 2025—
Ice storms & sleet2Feb 2021—
Lightning casualties & damage2Jul 2013Jul 5, 2013 · $50,000 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 Upper St. Martin forecast zone and St. Martin County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Catahoula?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KHDC (Hammond, LA), about 81 miles east-northeast. 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 CatahoulaView
KHDC
Hammond, LA		81 mi east-northeast7,000 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KLCH
Lake Charles, LA		90 mi west8,100 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KPOE
Fort Polk, LA		99 mi northwest9,500 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 Catahoula

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 116 tornadoes within 25 miles of Catahoula, 27 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and January. The strongest was an F3 on November 7, 1957, which passed about 24 miles west-northwest of town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was an EF2 on May 13, 2024, which passed about 9 miles north of town.

Hail: 120 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 7 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on April 7, 2003.

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 Catahoula'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.

Catahoula radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Catahoula, LA?

KHDC (Hammond, LA), about 81 miles east-northeast. KLCH (Lake Charles, LA) is 90 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Catahoula?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Catahoula the lowest scan from KHDC is about 7,000 ft up — fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation.

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

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