Pacolet, SC Live Doppler Radar

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

What weather hits Pacolet?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 315 days in the Southern Spartanburg forecast zone and Spartanburg County — the most common reported hazard around Pacolet, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (41 days) and lightning casualties & damage (33 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds315Mar 2026Jun 14, 2007 · $8.0 million damage
Flash flooding41Sep 2024Oct 1, 2015 · 1 death · $200,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage33Jun 2023Aug 29, 2007 · 1 death
Flooding19Sep 2024Feb 6, 2020 · $500,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms3Jan 2026—
Extreme cold & wind chill2Feb 2026—
Hurricanes & tropical storms1Sep 2024Sep 27, 2024 · $10 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 Southern Spartanburg forecast zone and Spartanburg County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Pacolet?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGSP (Greer, SC), about 26 miles west. 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 PacoletView
KGSP
Greer, SC
26 mi west1,500 ftExcellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KCAE
Columbia, SC
76 mi south-southeast6,300 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KMRX
Knoxville, TN
127 mi northwest13,900 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 Pacolet

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 79 tornadoes within 25 miles of Pacolet, 20 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on May 5, 1989, which passed about 15 miles northwest of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on December 29, 2024, which touched down about 15 miles south of town.

Hail: 296 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 25 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on May 2, 1957.

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 Pacolet'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.

Pacolet radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Pacolet, SC?

KGSP (Greer, SC), about 26 miles west. KCAE (Columbia, SC) is 76 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Pacolet?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Pacolet the lowest scan from KGSP is about 1,500 ft up — excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground.

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

Radar for nearby towns

All South Carolina towns →