Alvarado, TX Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for AlvaradoWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Alvarado?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 103 days in the Johnson forecast zone and Johnson County — the most common reported hazard around Alvarado, mostly in May and April. Next come flash flooding (71 days) and excessive heat (59 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds103Jun 2026Apr 23, 2003 · $4.0 million damage
Flash flooding71Jun 2026Sep 8, 2010 · 1 death · $400,000 damage
Excessive heat59Jun 2026Aug 1, 2023 · 1 death
Heavy snow & winter storms16Jan 2026Dec 5, 2013 · $400,000 damage
Flooding12Feb 2025Apr 27, 2015 · $200,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage10Apr 2024Apr 1, 2024 · $250,000 damage
Wildfires9Aug 2023Nov 27, 2005 · $850,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill7Jan 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 Johnson forecast zone and Johnson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Alvarado?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFWS (Dallas/Fort Worth, TX), about 13 miles north-northwest. 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 AlvaradoView
KFWS
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX		13 mi north-northwest700 ftExcellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KGRK
Central Texas, TX		117 mi south12,200 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KDYX
Dyess AFB, TX		119 mi west12,600 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 Alvarado

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 225 tornadoes within 25 miles of Alvarado, 57 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on May 26, 1976, which passed about 10 miles south-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on March 5, 2024, which touched down about 23 miles east-southeast of town.

Hail: 1,003 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 174 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.00-inch hail on June 12, 2023.

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 Alvarado'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.

Alvarado radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Alvarado, TX?

KFWS (Dallas/Fort Worth, TX), about 13 miles north-northwest. KGRK (Central Texas, TX) is 117 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Alvarado?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Alvarado the lowest scan from KFWS is about 700 ft up.

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

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