Cotton Valley, LA Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Cotton Valley, Webster County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for Cotton ValleyWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Cotton Valley?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 150 days in the Webster forecast zone and Webster County — the most common reported hazard around Cotton Valley, mostly in June and April. Next come excessive heat (87 days) and flash flooding (34 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds150Jun 2026Apr 5, 2022 · 1 death
Excessive heat87Aug 2025—
Flash flooding34May 2025Jul 28, 2009 · $500,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage14Jun 2023Jun 14, 2023 · 1 death
Heavy snow & winter storms11Jan 2026Jan 9, 2011 · 1 death
Flooding9Nov 2009Oct 4, 2009 · $500,000 damage
Ice storms & sleet7Dec 2000—
Extreme cold & wind chill7Jan 2026Jan 7, 1997 · 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 Webster forecast zone and Webster County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Cotton Valley?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KSHV (Shreveport, LA), about 35 miles southwest. 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 Cotton ValleyView
KSHV
Shreveport, LA		35 mi southwest2,200 ftExcellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KPOE
Fort Polk, LA		118 mi south-southeast12,300 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KLZK
Little Rock, AR		155 mi north-northeast19,100 ftLimited — 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 Cotton Valley

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 132 tornadoes within 25 miles of Cotton Valley, 34 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on February 12, 1950, which crossed near town and caused 18 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on September 24, 2025, which touched down about 20 miles west-southwest of town.

Hail: 453 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 49 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on April 24, 2020.

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 Cotton Valley'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.

Cotton Valley radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Cotton Valley, LA?

KSHV (Shreveport, LA), about 35 miles southwest. KPOE (Fort Polk, LA) is 118 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Cotton Valley?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Cotton Valley the lowest scan from KSHV is about 2,200 ft up.

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

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