Buena Vista, TX Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Buena VistaWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Buena Vista?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged dangerous heat on 53 days in the Starr forecast zone and Starr County — the most common reported hazard around Buena Vista, mostly in June and August. Next come flash flooding (38 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (32 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Excessive heat53Jun 2026—
Flash flooding38Jun 2026Jul 24, 2008 · $50 million damage
Damaging thunderstorm winds32Mar 2026Mar 7, 2026 · $250,000 damage
Wildfires15Feb 2024Feb 4, 2024 · $150,000 damage
Flooding9Nov 2023Jul 8, 2010 · $38 million damage
Extreme cold & wind chill7Jan 2026Feb 3, 1996 · $1.2 million damage
High winds2Mar 2008—
Hurricanes & tropical storms2Jul 2020Jul 25, 2020 · $33 million 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 Starr forecast zone and Starr County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Buena Vista?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBRO (Brownsville, TX), about 78 miles east-southeast. 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 Buena VistaView
KBRO
Brownsville, TX		78 mi east-southeast6,700 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KCRP
Corpus Christi, TX		123 mi north-northeast13,300 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KDFX
Laughlin AFB, TX		230 mi north-northwest37,000 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 Buena Vista

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 21 tornadoes within 25 miles of Buena Vista, 3 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and May. The strongest was an F3 on March 15, 1983, which passed about 25 miles southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on June 3, 2009, which touched down about 16 miles north of town.

Hail: 99 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 18 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on March 14, 1997.

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 Buena 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.

Buena Vista radar FAQ

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

KBRO (Brownsville, TX), about 78 miles east-southeast. KCRP (Corpus Christi, TX) is 123 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Buena Vista?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Buena Vista the lowest scan from KBRO is about 6,700 ft up — fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation.

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

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