Kings Mountain, NC Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Kings Mountain, Cleveland County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Kings Mountain?
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 Kings Mountain, 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 Kings Mountain get?
A normal year brings about 1.2 inches of snow to Kings Mountain, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Gastonia weather station 11.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (0.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 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 Kings Mountain?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGSP (Greer, SC), about 55 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 Kings Mountain | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KGSP Greer, SC | 55 mi west-southwest | 4,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KCAE Columbia, SC | 90 mi south | 8,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMRX Knoxville, TN | 132 mi west-northwest | 14,800 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 Kings Mountain
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 102 tornadoes within 25 miles of Kings Mountain, 19 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F4 on May 5, 1989, which passed about 21 miles northwest of town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on May 3, 2025, which touched down about 25 miles east-northeast of town.
Hail: 343 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 Kings Mountain'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.
Kings Mountain radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Kings Mountain, NC?
KGSP (Greer, SC), about 55 miles west-southwest. KCAE (Columbia, SC) is 90 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Kings Mountain?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Kings Mountain the lowest scan from KGSP is about 4,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Kings Mountain 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 Kings Mountain, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Bessemer City, NC radar 5 mi
- Gastonia, NC radar 9 mi
- Cherryville, NC radar 10 mi
- Dallas, NC radar 11 mi
- Shelby, NC radar 12 mi
- Ranlo, NC radar 13 mi
- Lowell, NC radar 14 mi
- Cramerton, NC radar 16 mi
- Stanley, NC radar 17 mi
- Belmont, NC radar 17 mi