Childress, TX Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Childress, Childress County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Childress?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 102 days in the Childress forecast zone and Childress County — the most common reported hazard around Childress, mostly in June and May. Next come high winds (55 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (17 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 102 | Jun 2026 | Jun 15, 2008 · $17 million damage |
| High winds | 55 | Mar 2026 | Mar 13, 2019 · $60,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 17 | Jan 2026 | Jan 28, 2010 · $1.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 7 | Oct 2017 | Jul 6, 2015 · $250,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Oct 2020 | Nov 27, 2015 · $50,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 4 | Apr 2025 | — |
| Wildfires | 3 | Jul 2011 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 3 | Jan 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 Childress forecast zone and Childress County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Childress get?
A normal year brings about 5.5 inches of snow to Childress, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Childress Muni Ap weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually January (1.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Childress?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFDR (Frederick, OK), about 75 miles east. 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.
| Radar | Distance | Lowest beam over Childress | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFDR Frederick, OK | 75 mi east | 6,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KAMA Amarillo, TX | 98 mi northwest | 9,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLBB Lubbock, TX | 103 mi west-southwest | 10,000 ft | Limited — 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 Childress
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 81 tornadoes within 25 miles of Childress, 10 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F3 on May 11, 1982, which passed about 13 miles northwest of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on March 13, 2021, which touched down about 21 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 368 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 90 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.00-inch hail on June 8, 1971.
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 Childress'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.
Childress radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Childress, TX?
KFDR (Frederick, OK), about 75 miles east. KAMA (Amarillo, TX) is 98 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Childress?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Childress the lowest scan from KFDR is about 6,200 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Childress 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 Childress, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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