Zachary, LA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Zachary, East Baton Rouge County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Zachary?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 117 days in the East Baton Rouge forecast zone and East Baton Rouge County — the most common reported hazard around Zachary, mostly in June and April. Next come flash flooding (57 days) and lightning casualties & damage (51 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 117 | Apr 2026 | Mar 26, 2009 · $4.5 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 57 | Jun 2026 | Aug 12, 2016 · 1 death · $722 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 51 | Jul 2025 | Jul 14, 2016 · 1 death |
| Excessive heat | 25 | Jul 2025 | Jul 30, 2024 · 1 death |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 11 | Sep 2024 | Aug 28, 2005 · 4 deaths · $17 million damage |
| Flooding | 9 | Sep 2018 | Aug 13, 2016 · 4 deaths · $1.7 billion damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 7 | Jan 2025 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 4 | Jan 2026 | — |
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 East Baton Rouge forecast zone and East Baton Rouge County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Zachary?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KHDC (Hammond, LA), about 46 miles east-southeast. 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 Zachary | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KHDC Hammond, LA | 46 mi east-southeast | 3,200 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLIX New Orleans, LA | 83 mi east-southeast | 7,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KPOE Fort Polk, LA | 113 mi west-northwest | 11,500 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 Zachary
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 109 tornadoes within 25 miles of Zachary, 21 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and June. The strongest was an F3 on October 15, 1957, which passed about 19 miles west of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on December 28, 2024, which touched down about 11 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 189 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 12 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.75-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 Zachary'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.
Zachary radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Zachary, LA?
KHDC (Hammond, LA), about 46 miles east-southeast. KLIX (New Orleans, LA) is 83 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Zachary?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Zachary the lowest scan from KHDC is about 3,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Zachary 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 Zachary, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Baker, LA radar 6 mi
- Central, LA radar 11 mi
- Jackson, LA radar 12 mi
- St. Francisville, LA radar 15 mi
- Port Allen, LA radar 15 mi
- Baton Rouge, LA radar 16 mi
- Clinton, LA radar 16 mi
- New Roads, LA radar 17 mi
- Denham Springs, LA radar 18 mi
- Brusly, LA radar 19 mi