Elsa, TX Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for ElsaWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Elsa?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 83 days in the Southern Hidalgo forecast zone and Hidalgo County — the most common reported hazard around Elsa, mostly in May and June. Next come excessive heat (69 days) and flash flooding (49 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds83May 2026May 31, 2016 · $11 million damage
Excessive heat69Jun 2026Jun 23, 2019 · 4 deaths
Flash flooding49Jun 2026Mar 27, 2025 · 3 deaths
Flooding28Aug 2025Aug 1, 2010 · 1 death
Wildfires16Mar 2025Jan 19, 2009 · $10 million damage
Lightning casualties & damage11Jun 2020Jun 25, 1996 · 1 death
Extreme cold & wind chill9Jan 2026Dec 7, 2017 · 1 death
High winds5Mar 2022Mar 18, 2008 · $10,000 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 Southern Hidalgo forecast zone and Hidalgo County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Elsa?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBRO (Brownsville, TX), about 44 miles 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 ElsaView
KBRO
Brownsville, TX		44 mi southeast3,000 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KCRP
Corpus Christi, TX		107 mi north-northeast10,600 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KEWX
San Antonio, TX		235 mi north38,600 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 Elsa

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 74 tornadoes within 25 miles of Elsa, 4 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in September and August. The strongest was an F3 on May 12, 1969, which touched down about 20 miles east-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on March 27, 2025, which touched down about 3 miles east of town.

Hail: 149 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 26 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on April 20, 2012.

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 Elsa'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.

Elsa radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Elsa, TX?

KBRO (Brownsville, TX), about 44 miles southeast. KCRP (Corpus Christi, TX) is 107 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Elsa?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Elsa the lowest scan from KBRO is about 3,000 ft up — good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly.

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

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