Mountain City, TN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Mountain City, Johnson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Mountain City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 72 days in the Johnson forecast zone and Johnson County — the most common reported hazard around Mountain City, mostly in January and February. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (57 days) and flash flooding (14 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 72 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 57 | May 2025 | Jun 3, 1998 · $33,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 14 | Sep 2024 | Sep 27, 2024 · 1 death · $6.5 million damage |
| High winds | 13 | Sep 2024 | Dec 9, 2009 · $25,000 damage |
| Flooding | 9 | Nov 2020 | Feb 23, 2019 · $900,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Dec 2010 | Dec 16, 2010 · $20,000 damage |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 1 | Sep 2004 | Sep 17, 2004 · $15,000 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 Johnson forecast zone and Johnson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Mountain City get?
A normal year brings about 12 inches of snow to Mountain City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Mtn City 2 weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually February (5.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 5.0 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 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 Mountain City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMRX (Knoxville, TN), about 91 miles west-southwest. 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 Mountain City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMRX Knoxville, TN | 91 mi west-southwest | 8,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFCX Blacksburg, VA | 93 mi east-northeast | 8,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KGSP Greer, SC | 112 mi south-southwest | 11,400 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 Mountain City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 22 tornadoes within 25 miles of Mountain City, 5 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and June. The strongest was an EF3 on April 27, 2011, which passed about 15 miles north-northwest of town and caused 3 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on September 25, 2024, which touched down about 24 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 142 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 10 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-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 Mountain City'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.
Mountain City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Mountain City, TN?
KMRX (Knoxville, TN), about 91 miles west-southwest. KFCX (Blacksburg, VA) is 93 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Mountain City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Mountain City the lowest scan from KMRX is about 8,400 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Mountain City 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 Mountain City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Bristol, TN radar 24 mi
- Elizabethton, TN radar 26 mi
- Bluff City, TN radar 26 mi
- Johnson City, TN radar 33 mi
- Unicoi, TN radar 34 mi
- Jonesborough, TN radar 39 mi
- Erwin, TN radar 41 mi
- Kingsport, TN radar 41 mi
- Mount Carmel, TN radar 48 mi
- Church Hill, TN radar 51 mi