Cookeville, TN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Cookeville, Putnam County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Cookeville?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 146 days in the Putnam forecast zone and Putnam County — the most common reported hazard around Cookeville, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (51 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (36 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 146 | May 2025 | May 27, 2017 · $1.4 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 51 | Jul 2024 | May 18, 2023 · $500,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 36 | Jan 2026 | Feb 20, 2015 · $10 million damage |
| Flooding | 12 | Aug 2022 | Aug 18, 2010 · $26 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 11 | May 2025 | Apr 28, 2023 · $5.0 million damage |
| High winds | 5 | Mar 2025 | Mar 3, 2023 · $500,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Jan 2010 | Mar 13, 2009 · $50,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 2 | Jan 2026 | — |
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 Putnam forecast zone and Putnam County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Cookeville get?
A normal year brings about 6.1 inches of snow to Cookeville, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Cookeville weather station 2.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (2.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 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 Cookeville?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOHX (Nashville, TN), about 59 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.
| Radar | Distance | Lowest beam over Cookeville | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOHX Nashville, TN | 59 mi west | 4,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KHTX Huntsville, AL | 90 mi south-southwest | 8,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KHPX Fort Campbell, KY | 107 mi west-northwest | 10,600 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 Cookeville
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 82 tornadoes within 25 miles of Cookeville, 24 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and March. The strongest was an EF4 on March 3, 2020, which passed about 2 miles north of town and caused 19 deaths. The most recent was an EF2 on February 6, 2025, which passed about 9 miles north of town.
Hail: 187 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 15 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 2, 1998.
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 Cookeville'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.
Cookeville radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Cookeville, TN?
KOHX (Nashville, TN), about 59 miles west. KHTX (Huntsville, AL) is 90 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Cookeville?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Cookeville the lowest scan from KOHX is about 4,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Cookeville 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 Cookeville, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Algood, TN radar 5 mi
- Baxter, TN radar 7 mi
- Monterey, TN radar 14 mi
- Sparta, TN radar 15 mi
- Livingston, TN radar 20 mi
- Smithville, TN radar 22 mi
- Gordonsville, TN radar 24 mi
- Carthage, TN radar 25 mi
- South Carthage, TN radar 26 mi
- Celina, TN radar 28 mi