Forest Heights, TX Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Forest HeightsWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Forest Heights?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 73 days in the Northern Orange forecast zone and Orange County — the most common reported hazard around Forest Heights, mostly in August and May. Next come flash flooding (62 days) and flooding (13 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds73Feb 2026Jul 18, 2009 · 1 death · $3,000 damage
Flash flooding62Jun 2026Aug 26, 2017 · 10 deaths · $1.5 billion damage
Flooding13Sep 2017Mar 21, 2012 · 1 death · $1,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage4Jul 2012Feb 10, 1998 · $10,000 damage
Excessive heat1Aug 2023—
Heavy snow & winter storms1Jan 2025—

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 Northern Orange forecast zone and Orange County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Forest Heights?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLCH (Lake Charles, LA), about 33 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 Forest HeightsView
KLCH
Lake Charles, LA		33 mi east-southeast2,100 ftExcellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KPOE
Fort Polk, LA		79 mi northeast6,700 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KHGX
Houston, TX		95 mi west-southwest8,900 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation

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 Forest Heights

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 157 tornadoes within 25 miles of Forest Heights, 29 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in October and May. The strongest was an F4 on November 7, 1957, which passed about 10 miles south of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on October 25, 2025, which touched down about 25 miles east of town.

Hail: 143 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 8 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on May 6, 1969.

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 Forest Heights'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.

Forest Heights radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Forest Heights, TX?

KLCH (Lake Charles, LA), about 33 miles east-southeast. KPOE (Fort Polk, LA) is 79 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Forest Heights?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Forest Heights the lowest scan from KLCH is about 2,100 ft up — excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground.

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

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