Jackson Center, PA Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Jackson Center, Mercer County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for Jackson CenterWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Jackson Center?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 202 days in the Mercer forecast zone and Mercer County — the most common reported hazard around Jackson Center, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (56 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (51 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds202Jun 2026Oct 6, 2024 · $1.0 million damage
Flash flooding56Jul 2025Aug 16, 2002 · $250,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms51Jan 2026Dec 20, 2004 · $650,000 damage
High winds22Mar 2021Sep 14, 2008 · $1.0 million damage
Flooding17Nov 2022Sep 8, 2004 · $200,000 damage
Ice storms & sleet10Feb 2011Jan 5, 2005 · $20,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill9Jan 2025—

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 Mercer forecast zone and Mercer County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Jackson Center?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPBZ (Pittsburgh, PA), about 51 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over Jackson CenterView
KPBZ
Pittsburgh, PA		51 mi south3,700 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KCLE
Cleveland, OH		90 mi west8,200 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KCCX
State College, PA		114 mi east-southeast11,700 ftLimited — 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 Jackson Center

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 65 tornadoes within 25 miles of Jackson Center, 15 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and July. The strongest was an F5 on May 31, 1985, which passed about 8 miles west-southwest of town and caused 18 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on May 21, 2025, which touched down about 25 miles south-southeast of town.

Hail: 230 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 11 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on May 28, 2019.

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 Jackson Center'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.

Jackson Center radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Jackson Center, PA?

KPBZ (Pittsburgh, PA), about 51 miles south. KCLE (Cleveland, OH) is 90 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Jackson Center?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Jackson Center the lowest scan from KPBZ is about 3,700 ft up.

Is TALON's radar for Jackson Center 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 Jackson Center, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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