Erath, LA Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for ErathWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Erath?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 61 days in the Lower Vermilion forecast zone and Vermilion County — the most common reported hazard around Erath, mostly in August and May. Next come flash flooding (24 days) and lightning casualties & damage (6 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds61Oct 2025Dec 9, 2004 · $200,000 damage
Flash flooding24May 2025May 17, 2021 · 1 death · $30,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage6May 2021Apr 5, 1997 · $320,000 damage
Flooding4Aug 2016Aug 14, 2016 · $75 million damage
Storm surge2Jul 2024—
Excessive heat1Aug 2023—
Hurricanes & tropical storms1Sep 2024—
Coastal flooding1Nov 2024—

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

Which radars cover Erath?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLCH (Lake Charles, LA), about 71 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 ErathView
KLCH
Lake Charles, LA		71 mi west5,800 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KPOE
Fort Polk, LA		100 mi northwest9,600 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KHDC
Hammond, LA		105 mi east-northeast10,300 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 Erath

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 142 tornadoes within 25 miles of Erath, 25 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and January. The strongest was an F3 on September 10, 1961, which passed about 16 miles west of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on June 10, 2025, which touched down about 10 miles west-northwest of town.

Hail: 129 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 Erath'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.

Erath radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Erath, LA?

KLCH (Lake Charles, LA), about 71 miles west. KPOE (Fort Polk, LA) is 100 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Erath?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Erath the lowest scan from KLCH is about 5,800 ft up — good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly.

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

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