Etowah, TN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Etowah, McMinn County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Etowah?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 189 days in the McMinn forecast zone and McMinn County — the most common reported hazard around Etowah, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (28 days) and flash flooding (24 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 189 | Dec 2025 | Jul 22, 2002 · $70,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 28 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 24 | May 2026 | May 6, 2003 · $17 million damage |
| Flooding | 16 | Feb 2020 | Feb 14, 2003 · $907,000 damage |
| High winds | 6 | Dec 2012 | Sep 27, 2002 · $30,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Feb 2015 | — |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 1 | Sep 2004 | Sep 16, 2004 · $8,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | May 2005 | May 20, 2005 · $10,000 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 McMinn forecast zone and McMinn County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Etowah get?
A normal year brings about 3.6 inches of snow to Etowah, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Athens weather station 7.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (1.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 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 Etowah?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMRX (Knoxville, TN), about 85 miles northeast. 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 Etowah | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMRX Knoxville, TN | 85 mi northeast | 7,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KHTX Huntsville, AL | 92 mi west-southwest | 8,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KOHX Nashville, TN | 130 mi west-northwest | 14,500 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 Etowah
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 70 tornadoes within 25 miles of Etowah, 25 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and March. The strongest was an EF4 on April 27, 2011, which passed about 5 miles west-northwest of town and caused 20 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on May 30, 2025, which touched down about 22 miles north of town.
Hail: 199 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 21 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on March 29, 1997.
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 Etowah'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.
Etowah radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Etowah, TN?
KMRX (Knoxville, TN), about 85 miles northeast. KHTX (Huntsville, AL) is 92 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Etowah?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Etowah the lowest scan from KMRX is about 7,600 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Etowah 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 Etowah, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Englewood, TN radar 6 mi
- Athens, TN radar 9 mi
- Benton, TN radar 13 mi
- Madisonville, TN radar 16 mi
- Sweetwater, TN radar 19 mi
- Decatur, TN radar 20 mi
- Cleveland, TN radar 22 mi
- Vonore, TN radar 24 mi
- Loudon, TN radar 29 mi
- Dayton, TN radar 29 mi