Lake Lure, NC Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lake Lure, Rutherford County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lake Lure?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 187 days in the Rutherford Mountains forecast zone and Rutherford County — the most common reported hazard around Lake Lure, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (25 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (22 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 187 | Jun 2026 | May 10, 2011 · 2 deaths |
| Flash flooding | 25 | Sep 2024 | Sep 26, 2024 · 1 death · $35 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 22 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 15 | Feb 2026 | Apr 16, 2007 · $500,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 13 | Apr 2017 | Apr 17, 2002 · $100,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 7 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 7 | Sep 2024 | Oct 7, 2021 · $50,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Feb 2021 | — |
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 Rutherford Mountains forecast zone and Rutherford County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Lake Lure get?
A normal year brings about 3.1 inches of snow to Lake Lure, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Lake Lure 2 weather station 2.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (1.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 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 Lake Lure?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGSP (Greer, SC), about 39 miles south. 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 Lake Lure | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KGSP Greer, SC | 39 mi south | 2,600 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KMRX Knoxville, TN | 84 mi northwest | 7,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KCAE Columbia, SC | 121 mi south-southeast | 12,800 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 Lake Lure
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 30 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lake Lure, 3 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and October. The strongest was an EF2 on January 11, 2012, which passed about 24 miles east-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on December 29, 2024, which touched down about 10 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 302 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 18 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 24, 2000.
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 Lake Lure'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.
Lake Lure radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lake Lure, NC?
KGSP (Greer, SC), about 39 miles south. KMRX (Knoxville, TN) is 84 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lake Lure?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lake Lure the lowest scan from KGSP is about 2,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Lake Lure 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 Lake Lure, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Black Mountain, NC radar 13 mi
- Columbus, NC radar 14 mi
- Rutherfordton, NC radar 15 mi
- Montreat, NC radar 15 mi
- Tryon, NC radar 17 mi
- Hendersonville, NC radar 17 mi
- Spindale, NC radar 17 mi
- Fletcher, NC radar 17 mi
- Flat Rock, NC radar 19 mi
- Marion, NC radar 19 mi