Orchard, TX Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for OrchardWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Orchard?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 81 days in the Fort Bend forecast zone and Fort Bend County — the most common reported hazard around Orchard, mostly in May and August. Next come flash flooding (46 days) and lightning casualties & damage (18 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds81Feb 2026May 2, 2000 · $2.0 million damage
Flash flooding46Oct 2021Aug 26, 2017 · 3 deaths · $8.0 billion damage
Lightning casualties & damage18Jun 2026Sep 11, 2003 · 1 death
Excessive heat15Sep 2023Jun 16, 2023 · 1 death
Heavy snow & winter storms6Jan 2025—
Hurricanes & tropical storms5Sep 2021Sep 12, 2008 · 3 deaths · $400 million damage
Ice storms & sleet3Feb 2011Jan 16, 2007 · $2,000 damage
Flooding2Nov 1998—

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 Fort Bend forecast zone and Fort Bend County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Orchard?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KHGX (Houston, TX), about 54 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over OrchardView
KHGX
Houston, TX		54 mi east4,000 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KGRK
Central Texas, TX		115 mi northwest11,800 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KEWX
San Antonio, TX		124 mi west13,400 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 Orchard

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 139 tornadoes within 25 miles of Orchard, 24 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and November. The strongest was an F3 on April 19, 1965, which touched down about 11 miles south of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on June 12, 2025, which touched down about 19 miles south of town.

Hail: 147 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 12 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 20, 1996.

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 Orchard'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.

Orchard radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Orchard, TX?

KHGX (Houston, TX), about 54 miles east. KGRK (Central Texas, TX) is 115 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Orchard?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Orchard the lowest scan from KHGX is about 4,000 ft up.

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

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