Earl, NC Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Earl, Cleveland County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Earl?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 182 days in the Cleveland forecast zone and Cleveland County — the most common reported hazard around Earl, mostly in July and August. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (29 days) and lightning casualties & damage (23 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 182 | Aug 2025 | Apr 5, 2011 · $100,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 29 | Jan 2026 | Feb 26, 2004 · $2,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 23 | Jun 2018 | May 24, 2001 · $2.0 million damage |
| High winds | 15 | Feb 2016 | Apr 16, 2007 · $500,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 14 | Jun 2025 | Sep 27, 2024 · $2.0 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 12 | Dec 2005 | Dec 4, 2002 · $9.0 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 8 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 6 | Mar 2021 | Feb 6, 2020 · $1.0 million 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 Cleveland forecast zone and Cleveland County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Earl get?
A normal year brings about 1.9 inches of snow to Earl, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Gaffney 6 E weather station 7.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (0.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 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 Earl?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGSP (Greer, SC), about 44 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 Earl | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KGSP Greer, SC | 44 mi west-southwest | 3,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KCAE Columbia, SC | 89 mi south-southeast | 8,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMRX Knoxville, TN | 125 mi west-northwest | 13,500 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 Earl
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 102 tornadoes within 25 miles of Earl, 17 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F4 on May 5, 1989, which passed about 19 miles north of town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on December 29, 2024, which passed about 14 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 319 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 29 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on April 3, 1974.
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 Earl'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.
Earl radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Earl, NC?
KGSP (Greer, SC), about 44 miles west-southwest. KCAE (Columbia, SC) is 89 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Earl?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Earl the lowest scan from KGSP is about 3,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Earl 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 Earl, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Shelby, NC radar 7 mi
- Boiling Springs, NC radar 8 mi
- Kings Mountain, NC radar 11 mi
- Bessemer City, NC radar 15 mi
- Cherryville, NC radar 16 mi
- Gastonia, NC radar 20 mi
- Forest City, NC radar 21 mi
- Dallas, NC radar 22 mi
- Ranlo, NC radar 24 mi
- Spindale, NC radar 25 mi