Helena, MS Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Helena What TALON shows

What weather hits Helena?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 73 days in the Southern Jackson forecast zone and Jackson County — the most common reported hazard around Helena, mostly in June and August. Next come flash flooding (34 days) and excessive heat (23 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds	73	Jun 2026	Apr 14, 2014 · $100,000 damage
Flash flooding	34	Jun 2026	May 1, 2013 · $1.5 million damage
Excessive heat	23	Jul 2025	—
Lightning casualties & damage	13	Jul 2013	Jul 31, 2011 · 1 death
Storm surge	3	Sep 2024	Feb 15, 1998 · $250,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill	2	Jan 2026	—
Flooding	2	Jun 2002	Jul 8, 1996 · $100,000 damage
Hurricanes & tropical storms	1	Sep 2024	Sep 11, 2024 · $20,000 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 Southern Jackson forecast zone and Jackson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Helena?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMOB (Mobile, AL), about 21 miles 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 Helena	View
KMOB Mobile, AL	21 mi northeast	1,200 ft	Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KLIX New Orleans, LA	79 mi west	6,800 ft	Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KHDC Hammond, LA	113 mi west	11,600 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 Helena

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 168 tornadoes within 25 miles of Helena, 22 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and October. The strongest was an F3 on April 13, 1980, which passed about 22 miles west of town. The most recent was an EF1 on October 26, 2025, which passed about 5 miles west-northwest of town.

Hail: 128 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 7 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.00-inch hail on April 27, 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 Helena'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.

Helena radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Helena, MS?

KMOB (Mobile, AL), about 21 miles northeast. KLIX (New Orleans, LA) is 79 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Helena?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Helena the lowest scan from KMOB is about 1,200 ft up — excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground.

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

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