Mars Hill, NC Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Mars Hill, Madison County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Mars Hill?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 108 days in the Madison forecast zone and Madison County — the most common reported hazard around Mars Hill, mostly in January and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (87 days) and flash flooding (34 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 108 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 87 | Mar 2026 | Apr 2, 2006 · $20,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 34 | Sep 2024 | Sep 27, 2024 · 5 deaths · $10 million damage |
| High winds | 31 | Mar 2025 | Apr 16, 2007 · $500,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 23 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 9 | Feb 2001 | — |
| Flooding | 7 | Sep 2024 | Sep 27, 2024 · $25 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Jun 2010 | Jun 4, 2010 · 1 death |
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 Madison forecast zone and Madison County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Mars Hill get?
A normal year brings about 26 inches of snow to Mars Hill, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Marshall weather station 6.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (7.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.3 | 7.0 | 6.5 | 6.6 | 4.3 | 0.8 | 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 Mars Hill?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMRX (Knoxville, TN), about 53 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 Mars Hill | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMRX Knoxville, TN | 53 mi west-northwest | 3,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KGSP Greer, SC | 68 mi south-southeast | 5,400 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KJKL Jackson, KY | 129 mi north-northwest | 14,300 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 Mars Hill
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 17 tornadoes within 25 miles of Mars Hill, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and June. The strongest was an EF3 on April 27, 2011, which passed about 20 miles north-northwest of town and caused 6 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on May 8, 2024, which touched down about 17 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 163 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 5 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 Mars Hill'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.
Mars Hill radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Mars Hill, NC?
KMRX (Knoxville, TN), about 53 miles west-northwest. KGSP (Greer, SC) is 68 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Mars Hill?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Mars Hill the lowest scan from KMRX is about 3,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Mars Hill 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 Mars Hill, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Weaverville, NC radar 9 mi
- Woodfin, NC radar 13 mi
- Burnsville, NC radar 15 mi
- Asheville, NC radar 18 mi
- Montreat, NC radar 19 mi
- Black Mountain, NC radar 19 mi
- Biltmore Forest, NC radar 20 mi
- Canton, NC radar 26 mi
- Fletcher, NC radar 27 mi
- Spruce Pine, NC radar 27 mi