Ben Wheeler, TX Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Ben WheelerWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Ben Wheeler?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 87 days in the Van Zandt forecast zone and Van Zandt County — the most common reported hazard around Ben Wheeler, mostly in May and April. Next come excessive heat (51 days) and flash flooding (32 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds87Apr 2026Jun 3, 2024 · 1 death · $5,000 damage
Excessive heat51Jun 2026—
Flash flooding32Mar 2026Mar 30, 2007 · 1 death · $10,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms18Jan 2026Jan 24, 2026 · $100,000 damage
Flooding10Mar 2016Jul 6, 2007 · $200,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill7Jan 2026Feb 15, 2021 · $157,000 damage
Ice storms & sleet5Feb 2023Mar 2, 2014 · $150,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage5Jul 2022Apr 24, 2010 · 1 death · $200,000 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 Van Zandt forecast zone and Van Zandt County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Ben Wheeler?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFWS (Dallas/Fort Worth, TX), about 94 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 Ben WheelerView
KFWS
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX		94 mi west8,700 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KSHV
Shreveport, LA		109 mi east10,900 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KGRK
Central Texas, TX		155 mi southwest19,100 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 Ben Wheeler

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 117 tornadoes within 25 miles of Ben Wheeler, 32 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an EF4 on April 29, 2017, which passed about 15 miles west-northwest of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on October 28, 2025, which passed about 19 miles east-northeast of town.

Hail: 318 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 47 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.00-inch hail on June 22, 1955.

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 Ben Wheeler'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.

Ben Wheeler radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Ben Wheeler, TX?

KFWS (Dallas/Fort Worth, TX), about 94 miles west. KSHV (Shreveport, LA) is 109 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Ben Wheeler?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Ben Wheeler the lowest scan from KFWS is about 8,700 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.

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

Radar for nearby towns

All Texas towns →