Echo, LA Live Doppler Radar

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

What weather hits Echo?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 157 days in the Rapides forecast zone and Rapides County — the most common reported hazard around Echo, mostly in June and April. Next come flash flooding (46 days) and lightning casualties & damage (10 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds157Jun 2026Apr 10, 2024 · 1 death · $15,000 damage
Flash flooding46Jun 2026Aug 13, 2016 · 1 death · $500,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage10Aug 2025Jul 10, 2016 · 1 death
Hurricanes & tropical storms9Oct 2020Aug 26, 2020 · 3 deaths · $500 million damage
Flooding7Mar 2016Jan 10, 2013 · $33 million damage
Heavy snow & winter storms6Jan 2025Jan 1, 2001 · $50,000 damage
Excessive heat5Sep 2023Jun 21, 2010 · 1 death
Ice storms & sleet4Feb 2021Feb 3, 2011 · $1.0 million 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 Rapides forecast zone and Rapides County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Echo?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPOE (Fort Polk, LA), about 44 miles west. 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 EchoView
KPOE
Fort Polk, LA
44 mi west3,000 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KLCH
Lake Charles, LA
89 mi southwest8,100 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KHDC
Hammond, LA
116 mi east-southeast12,100 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 Echo

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 130 tornadoes within 25 miles of Echo, 35 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in December and April. The strongest was an F3 on November 7, 1957, which passed about 19 miles northwest of town and caused 3 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on December 28, 2024, which passed about 18 miles south of town.

Hail: 128 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 16 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.50-inch hail on June 20, 2023.

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 Echo'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.

Echo radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Echo, LA?

KPOE (Fort Polk, LA), about 44 miles west. KLCH (Lake Charles, LA) is 89 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Echo?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Echo the lowest scan from KPOE is about 3,000 ft up.

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

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