Cottonwood, TX Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for CottonwoodWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Cottonwood?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 102 days in the Kaufman forecast zone and Kaufman County — the most common reported hazard around Cottonwood, mostly in April and June. Next come excessive heat (55 days) and flash flooding (49 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds102Jun 2026Mar 2, 1997 · $1.5 million damage
Excessive heat55Jun 2026Aug 1, 2011 · 3 deaths
Flash flooding49Jun 2026Jun 10, 2010 · $1.5 million damage
Heavy snow & winter storms17Jan 2026Feb 11, 2010 · 1 death · $1.0 million damage
Flooding16Jul 2021May 31, 2016 · $12,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill6Jan 2026Feb 14, 2021 · 1 death · $2.7 million damage
Ice storms & sleet5Feb 2023Jan 14, 2007 · $30,000 damage
Wildfires5Jul 2022Sep 6, 2011 · 1 death · $100,000 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 Kaufman forecast zone and Kaufman County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Cottonwood?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFWS (Dallas/Fort Worth, TX), about 53 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 CottonwoodView
KFWS
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX		53 mi west3,900 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KGRK
Central Texas, TX		133 mi south-southwest14,900 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KSHV
Shreveport, LA		149 mi east18,000 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 Cottonwood

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 114 tornadoes within 25 miles of Cottonwood, 28 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on April 25, 1994, which passed about 22 miles northwest of town and caused 3 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on April 26, 2024, which passed about 19 miles south-southwest of town.

Hail: 403 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 53 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 Cottonwood'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.

Cottonwood radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Cottonwood, TX?

KFWS (Dallas/Fort Worth, TX), about 53 miles west. KGRK (Central Texas, TX) is 133 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Cottonwood?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Cottonwood the lowest scan from KFWS is about 3,900 ft up.

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

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