Ames, TX Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for AmesWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Ames?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 73 days in the Northern Liberty forecast zone and Liberty County — the most common reported hazard around Ames, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (43 days) and excessive heat (13 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds73May 2026Mar 13, 1999 · $100,000 damage
Flash flooding43Jun 2026Oct 16, 2006 · 1 death · $10,000 damage
Excessive heat13Sep 2023—
Hurricanes & tropical storms7Aug 2017Sep 23, 2005 · 2 deaths · $7.0 million damage
Heavy snow & winter storms4Jan 2025—
Ice storms & sleet3Feb 2011Jan 16, 2007 · $2,000 damage
Flooding2Nov 1998—
Extreme cold & wind chill1Feb 2021Feb 15, 2021 · $30,000 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 Northern Liberty forecast zone and Liberty County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Ames?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KHGX (Houston, TX), about 45 miles south-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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over AmesView
KHGX
Houston, TX		45 mi south-southwest3,000 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KLCH
Lake Charles, LA		91 mi east8,400 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KPOE
Fort Polk, LA		130 mi northeast14,400 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 Ames

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 117 tornadoes within 25 miles of Ames, 24 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and October. The strongest was an F4 on November 21, 1992, which passed about 10 miles west-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on December 26, 2024, which passed about 17 miles north-northwest of town.

Hail: 74 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 4 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on May 9, 2019.

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 Ames'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.

Ames radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Ames, TX?

KHGX (Houston, TX), about 45 miles south-southwest. KLCH (Lake Charles, LA) is 91 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Ames?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Ames the lowest scan from KHGX is about 3,000 ft up — good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly.

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

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