Taft, LA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Taft, St. Charles County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Taft?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 56 days in the Lower St. Charles forecast zone and St. Charles County — the most common reported hazard around Taft, mostly in April and July. Next come flash flooding (46 days) and flooding (3 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 56 | May 2026 | Dec 9, 2004 · $75,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 46 | Jun 2026 | Sep 11, 2024 · $53 million damage |
| Flooding | 3 | Jan 1998 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 2 | Jun 2008 | Jun 7, 2001 · $500,000 damage |
| Storm surge | 1 | Sep 1998 | — |
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 St. Charles forecast zone and St. Charles County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Taft?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KHDC (Hammond, LA), about 37 miles north. 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 Taft | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KHDC Hammond, LA | 37 mi north | 2,400 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KLIX New Orleans, LA | 45 mi east-northeast | 3,100 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMOB Mobile, AL | 140 mi east-northeast | 16,300 ft | Limited — 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 Taft
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 140 tornadoes within 25 miles of Taft, 25 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and February. The strongest was an F4 on December 6, 1983, which passed about 6 miles north of town. The most recent was an EF0 on October 26, 2025, which touched down about 23 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 120 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 9 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 Taft'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.
Taft radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Taft, LA?
KHDC (Hammond, LA), about 37 miles north. KLIX (New Orleans, LA) is 45 miles away and also covers the area.
Can radar see a tornado near Taft?
Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Taft the lowest scan from KHDC is about 2,400 ft up — excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground.
Is TALON's radar for Taft 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 Taft, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Kenner, LA radar 12 mi
- Harahan, LA radar 15 mi
- Gramercy, LA radar 15 mi
- Lutcher, LA radar 16 mi
- Westwego, LA radar 19 mi
- Lockport, LA radar 24 mi
- Gretna, LA radar 25 mi
- Thibodaux, LA radar 25 mi
- Jean Lafitte, LA radar 26 mi
- Killian, LA radar 27 mi