Port Arthur, TX Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Port ArthurWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Port Arthur?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 99 days in the Lower Jefferson forecast zone and Jefferson County — the most common reported hazard around Port Arthur, mostly in August and May. Next come flash flooding (97 days) and lightning casualties & damage (13 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds99May 2026Aug 14, 1998 · 1 death · $75,000 damage
Flash flooding97Jun 2026Aug 27, 2017 · 5 deaths · $3.0 billion damage
Lightning casualties & damage13Jun 2025Jul 23, 2009 · 1 death · $5,000 damage
Flooding8Sep 2017Jul 30, 1997 · $20,000 damage
Coastal flooding3Nov 2024Sep 11, 2024 · $1,000 damage
Storm surge2Jul 2024Jul 8, 2024 · $2,000 damage
Excessive heat1Aug 2023—
Hurricanes & tropical storms1Jul 2024—

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 Lower Jefferson forecast zone and Jefferson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Port Arthur?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLCH (Lake Charles, LA), about 43 miles east-northeast. 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 Port ArthurView
KLCH
Lake Charles, LA		43 mi east-northeast2,900 ftExcellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KHGX
Houston, TX		77 mi west-southwest6,500 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KPOE
Fort Polk, LA		103 mi north-northeast10,000 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 Port Arthur

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 137 tornadoes within 25 miles of Port Arthur, 32 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and October. The strongest was an F4 on November 7, 1957, which passed about 5 miles north of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF3 on December 28, 2024, which passed about 4 miles south-southeast of town.

Hail: 122 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 6 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 Port Arthur'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.

Port Arthur radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Port Arthur, TX?

KLCH (Lake Charles, LA), about 43 miles east-northeast. KHGX (Houston, TX) is 77 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Port Arthur?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Port Arthur the lowest scan from KLCH is about 2,900 ft up — excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground.

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

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