Unicoi, TN Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for UnicoiWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Unicoi?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 79 days in the Unicoi forecast zone and Unicoi County — the most common reported hazard around Unicoi, mostly in January and February. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (55 days) and high winds (17 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Heavy snow & winter storms79Jan 2026—
Damaging thunderstorm winds55May 2024Jun 13, 1997 · $35,000 damage
High winds17Sep 2024Sep 27, 2024 · $5.3 million damage
Flash flooding13Sep 2024Sep 27, 2024 · 9 deaths · $9.8 million damage
Flooding7Feb 2020Feb 6, 2020 · 1 death · $350,000 damage
Ice storms & sleet4Dec 2010Dec 16, 2010 · $20,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage1Aug 2005—

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

How much snow does Unicoi get?

A normal year brings about 9.3 inches of snow to Unicoi, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Erwin 1 W weather station 7.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (3.4 in).

OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMay
0.00.12.43.42.50.90.00.0

Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.

Which radars cover Unicoi?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMRX (Knoxville, TN), about 60 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 UnicoiView
KMRX
Knoxville, TN		60 mi west4,600 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KGSP
Greer, SC		93 mi south8,600 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KJKL
Jackson, KY		109 mi north-northwest11,000 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 Unicoi

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 26 tornadoes within 25 miles of Unicoi, 9 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and June. The strongest was an EF3 on April 27, 2011, which passed about 14 miles west-southwest of town and caused 6 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on August 14, 2023, which touched down about 21 miles east of town.

Hail: 146 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 11 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on October 8, 1960.

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 Unicoi'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.

Unicoi radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Unicoi, TN?

KMRX (Knoxville, TN), about 60 miles west. KGSP (Greer, SC) is 93 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Unicoi?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Unicoi the lowest scan from KMRX is about 4,600 ft up.

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

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