Southwest City, MO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Southwest City, McDonald County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Southwest City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 106 days in the McDonald forecast zone and McDonald County — the most common reported hazard around Southwest City, mostly in June and May. Next come flash flooding (93 days) and flooding (49 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 106 | Jun 2026 | Apr 15, 2001 · $125,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 93 | Sep 2025 | Jan 4, 2005 · 2 deaths |
| Flooding | 49 | Jun 2026 | Dec 27, 2015 · $10 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 31 | Jan 2026 | Mar 13, 1999 · $50,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 9 | Aug 2012 | Jul 23, 1999 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 6 | Feb 2025 | Dec 12, 2000 · $50,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Jan 2009 | Jan 12, 2007 · $100,000 damage |
| High winds | 2 | Mar 2025 | — |
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 McDonald forecast zone and McDonald County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Southwest City get?
A normal year brings about 12 inches of snow to Southwest City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Gravette weather station 10.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (3.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 3.6 | 2.9 | 3.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Southwest City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KINX (Tulsa, OK), about 58 miles west-southwest. 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 Southwest City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KINX Tulsa, OK | 58 mi west-southwest | 4,400 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KSGF Springfield, MO | 83 mi northeast | 7,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KSRX Fort Smith, AR | 86 mi south | 7,600 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 Southwest City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 162 tornadoes within 25 miles of Southwest City, 42 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F4 on April 24, 1975, which passed about 22 miles north of town and caused 3 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on June 18, 2025, which passed about 6 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 485 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 46 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on March 14, 2024.
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 Southwest City'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.
Southwest City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Southwest City, MO?
KINX (Tulsa, OK), about 58 miles west-southwest. KSGF (Springfield, MO) is 83 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Southwest City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Southwest City the lowest scan from KINX is about 4,400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Southwest City 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 Southwest City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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