Gainesville, TX Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Gainesville, Cooke County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Gainesville?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 98 days in the Cooke forecast zone and Cooke County — the most common reported hazard around Gainesville, mostly in May and June. Next come excessive heat (53 days) and flash flooding (44 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 98 | Mar 2026 | Jun 18, 2011 · $1.2 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 53 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 44 | Oct 2025 | Jun 18, 2007 · 3 deaths · $28 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 25 | Jan 2026 | Dec 5, 2013 · $300,000 damage |
| Flooding | 10 | Jan 2020 | Apr 29, 2009 · $2.5 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 8 | Jan 2026 | Feb 14, 2021 · $185,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 7 | Apr 2025 | May 21, 2013 · $200,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Mar 2015 | Feb 1, 2011 · $150,000 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 Cooke forecast zone and Cooke County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Gainesville get?
A normal year brings about 2.6 inches of snow to Gainesville, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Gainesville 5 Ene weather station 5.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (1.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 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 Gainesville?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFWS (Dallas/Fort Worth, TX), about 74 miles south. 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 Gainesville | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFWS Dallas/Fort Worth, TX | 74 mi south | 6,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFDR Frederick, OK | 116 mi west-northwest | 12,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KTLX Oklahoma City, OK | 117 mi north | 12,300 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 Gainesville
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 125 tornadoes within 25 miles of Gainesville, 29 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an EF4 on April 27, 2024, which passed about 19 miles north of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on May 19, 2025, which touched down about 19 miles west of town.
Hail: 548 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 77 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.90-inch hail on June 15, 2023.
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 Gainesville'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.
Gainesville radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Gainesville, TX?
KFWS (Dallas/Fort Worth, TX), about 74 miles south. KFDR (Frederick, OK) is 116 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Gainesville?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Gainesville the lowest scan from KFWS 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 Gainesville 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 Gainesville, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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