Fort Polk North, LA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Fort Polk North, Vernon County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Fort Polk North?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 98 days in the Vernon forecast zone and Vernon County — the most common reported hazard around Fort Polk North, mostly in June and April. Next come flash flooding (27 days) and flooding (8 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 98 | Feb 2026 | Mar 10, 2000 · $2.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 27 | May 2026 | Mar 20, 2012 · $1.5 million damage |
| Flooding | 8 | Mar 2016 | Mar 10, 2016 · $50 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 7 | Jan 2025 | Jan 1, 2001 · $5,000 damage |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 6 | Oct 2020 | Aug 26, 2020 · 1 death · $900 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 4 | Sep 2023 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 3 | Feb 2021 | Feb 1, 1996 · $200,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | May 2025 | May 6, 2025 · $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 Vernon forecast zone and Vernon County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Fort Polk North?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPOE (Fort Polk, LA), about 12 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.
| Radar | Distance | Lowest beam over Fort Polk North | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPOE Fort Polk, LA | 12 mi east-northeast | 600 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KLCH Lake Charles, LA | 67 mi south | 5,400 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KSHV Shreveport, LA | 101 mi north-northwest | 9,800 ft | Fair — 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 Fort Polk North
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 97 tornadoes within 25 miles of Fort Polk North, 18 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in November and December. The strongest was an F4 on December 3, 1953, which passed about 8 miles east-southeast of town and caused 9 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on March 4, 2025, which touched down about 20 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 94 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 7 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.50-inch hail on December 23, 2014.
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 Fort Polk North'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.
Fort Polk North radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Fort Polk North, LA?
KPOE (Fort Polk, LA), about 12 miles east-northeast. KLCH (Lake Charles, LA) is 67 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Fort Polk North?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Fort Polk North the lowest scan from KPOE is about 600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Fort Polk North 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 Fort Polk North, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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