Burnsville, NC Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Burnsville, Yancey County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Burnsville?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 118 days in the Yancey forecast zone and Yancey County — the most common reported hazard around Burnsville, mostly in January and February. Next come high winds (34 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (33 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 118 | Jan 2026 | Feb 26, 2004 · $1,000 damage |
| High winds | 34 | Feb 2026 | Apr 16, 2007 · $500,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 33 | May 2025 | Aug 20, 1999 · $45,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 28 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 21 | Sep 2024 | Sep 26, 2024 · 9 deaths · $75 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 17 | Feb 2021 | Dec 15, 2005 · $25,000 damage |
| Flooding | 8 | Sep 2024 | Sep 7, 2004 · $1.0 million damage |
| Blizzards | 2 | Feb 2010 | — |
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 Yancey forecast zone and Yancey County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Burnsville get?
A normal year brings about 13 inches of snow to Burnsville, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Celo 2 S weather station 8.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (4.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.2 | 2.2 | 4.2 | 2.3 | 3.3 | 0.5 | 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 Burnsville?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMRX (Knoxville, TN), about 64 miles west-northwest. 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 Burnsville | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMRX Knoxville, TN | 64 mi west-northwest | 5,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KGSP Greer, SC | 72 mi south | 5,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KJKL Jackson, KY | 129 mi north-northwest | 14,200 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 Burnsville
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 12 tornadoes within 25 miles of Burnsville, 3 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and June. The strongest was an EF3 on April 27, 2011, which passed about 22 miles northwest of town and caused 6 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on May 8, 2024, which touched down about 19 miles south of town.
Hail: 176 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 10 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on May 1, 1990.
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 Burnsville'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.
Burnsville radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Burnsville, NC?
KMRX (Knoxville, TN), about 64 miles west-northwest. KGSP (Greer, SC) is 72 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Burnsville?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Burnsville the lowest scan from KMRX is about 5,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Burnsville 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 Burnsville, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Spruce Pine, NC radar 13 mi
- Mars Hill, NC radar 15 mi
- Montreat, NC radar 19 mi
- Weaverville, NC radar 21 mi
- Black Mountain, NC radar 21 mi
- Marion, NC radar 23 mi
- Woodfin, NC radar 25 mi
- Asheville, NC radar 28 mi
- Banner Elk, NC radar 29 mi
- Biltmore Forest, NC radar 30 mi