Sam Rayburn, TX Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Sam Rayburn, Jasper County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for Sam RayburnWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Sam Rayburn?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 119 days in the Northern Jasper forecast zone and Jasper County — the most common reported hazard around Sam Rayburn, mostly in April and May. Next come flash flooding (34 days) and flooding (6 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds119Jun 2026Aug 30, 2017 · 2 deaths · $5,000 damage
Flash flooding34May 2025Aug 29, 2017 · $85 million damage
Flooding6Jun 2016Mar 10, 2016 · $1.0 million damage
Lightning casualties & damage4May 2026May 30, 1999 · 1 death
Heavy snow & winter storms3Jan 2025—
Wildfires2Aug 2023Aug 17, 2011 · 1 death
Ice storms & sleet2Feb 2021—
Hurricanes & tropical storms2Oct 2020Aug 26, 2020 · $70 million 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 Northern Jasper forecast zone and Jasper County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Sam Rayburn?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPOE (Fort Polk, LA), about 62 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 Sam RayburnView
KPOE
Fort Polk, LA		62 mi east4,800 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KLCH
Lake Charles, LA		82 mi southeast7,100 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KSHV
Shreveport, LA		96 mi north9,000 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 Sam Rayburn

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 66 tornadoes within 25 miles of Sam Rayburn, 11 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and March. The strongest was an F3 on March 2, 1999, which passed about 14 miles south-southeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on March 4, 2025, which passed about 15 miles northeast of town.

Hail: 93 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 10 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on January 26, 2024.

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 Sam Rayburn'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.

Sam Rayburn radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Sam Rayburn, TX?

KPOE (Fort Polk, LA), about 62 miles east. KLCH (Lake Charles, LA) is 82 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Sam Rayburn?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Sam Rayburn the lowest scan from KPOE is about 4,800 ft up — good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly.

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

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