Bayou Vista, TX Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Bayou VistaWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Bayou Vista?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 91 days in the Coastal Galveston forecast zone and Galveston County — the most common reported hazard around Bayou Vista, mostly in May and April. Next come flash flooding (84 days) and lightning casualties & damage (22 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds91May 2026May 2, 2000 · $1.0 million damage
Flash flooding84Sep 2024Aug 26, 2017 · 6 deaths · $10.0 billion damage
Lightning casualties & damage22Aug 2025Aug 23, 2006 · 1 death · $70,000 damage
Excessive heat4Sep 2023—
Coastal flooding3Jan 2025—
Storm surge2Sep 2020—
Hurricanes & tropical storms2Jun 2026—
Extreme cold & wind chill1Feb 2021—

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

Which radars cover Bayou Vista?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KHGX (Houston, TX), about 13 miles 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 Bayou VistaView
KHGX
Houston, TX		13 mi northwest700 ftExcellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KLCH
Lake Charles, LA		117 mi east-northeast12,300 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KPOE
Fort Polk, LA		172 mi northeast22,800 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 Bayou Vista

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 174 tornadoes within 25 miles of Bayou Vista, 27 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and May. The strongest was an F4 on September 12, 1961, which touched down about 10 miles east of town and caused 8 deaths. The most recent was an EF2 on December 28, 2024, which passed about 17 miles west-northwest of town.

Hail: 97 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 11 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on April 2, 2013.

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 Bayou Vista'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.

Bayou Vista radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Bayou Vista, TX?

KHGX (Houston, TX), about 13 miles northwest. KLCH (Lake Charles, LA) is 117 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Bayou Vista?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Bayou Vista the lowest scan from KHGX is about 700 ft up — excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground.

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

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