Rock Island, TX Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Rock IslandWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Rock Island?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 49 days in the Colorado forecast zone and Colorado County — the most common reported hazard around Rock Island, mostly in May and June. Next come flash flooding (25 days) and excessive heat (12 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds49Oct 2025Oct 19, 2002 · $215,000 damage
Flash flooding25Aug 2022Apr 18, 2016 · $2.5 million damage
Excessive heat12Sep 2023—
Ice storms & sleet5Feb 2021Dec 13, 2000 · $50,000 damage
Flooding4Jan 2024—
Hurricanes & tropical storms2Jun 2015Sep 7, 1998 · $25,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms2Jan 2025—
High winds1Jan 1996Jan 18, 1996 · $50,000 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 Colorado forecast zone and Colorado County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Rock Island?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KEWX (San Antonio, TX), about 89 miles west. 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 Rock IslandView
KEWX
San Antonio, TX		89 mi west8,000 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KHGX
Houston, TX		90 mi east8,100 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KGRK
Central Texas, TX		97 mi north-northwest9,100 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 Rock Island

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 64 tornadoes within 25 miles of Rock Island, 15 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and September. The strongest was an F3 on September 20, 1967, which touched down about 18 miles west-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on May 18, 2021, which touched down about 15 miles west of town.

Hail: 84 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 8 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 Rock Island'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.

Rock Island radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Rock Island, TX?

KEWX (San Antonio, TX), about 89 miles west. KHGX (Houston, TX) is 90 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Rock Island?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Rock Island the lowest scan from KEWX is about 8,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.

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

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