Ruston, LA Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for RustonWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Ruston?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 109 days in the Lincoln forecast zone and Lincoln County — the most common reported hazard around Ruston, mostly in June and April. Next come excessive heat (85 days) and flash flooding (23 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds109Oct 2025Dec 21, 2013 · $1.3 million damage
Excessive heat85Aug 2025Jul 18, 2000 · 2 deaths
Flash flooding23Jun 2026May 18, 2015 · 1 death · $10,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage11Aug 2012May 27, 1997 · $60,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms10Jan 2026Jan 9, 2011 · 1 death
Ice storms & sleet7Dec 2000—
Extreme cold & wind chill7Jan 2026Jan 7, 2010 · $250,000 damage
Hurricanes & tropical storms5Oct 2020Sep 1, 2008 · $250,000 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 Lincoln forecast zone and Lincoln County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Ruston?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KSHV (Shreveport, 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 RustonView
KSHV
Shreveport, LA		71 mi west5,700 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KPOE
Fort Polk, LA		97 mi south-southwest9,200 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KDGX
Jackson, MS		156 mi east19,300 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 Ruston

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 127 tornadoes within 25 miles of Ruston, 33 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F3 on September 12, 1961, which touched down about 21 miles south of town and caused 5 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on December 26, 2024, which touched down about 7 miles south-southwest of town.

Hail: 352 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 31 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on January 22, 1999.

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 Ruston'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.

Ruston radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Ruston, LA?

KSHV (Shreveport, LA), about 71 miles west. KPOE (Fort Polk, LA) is 97 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Ruston?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Ruston the lowest scan from KSHV is about 5,700 ft up.

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

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