Santa Maria, TX Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Santa Maria, Cameron County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for Santa MariaWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Santa Maria?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged dangerous heat on 70 days in the Inland Cameron forecast zone and Cameron County — the most common reported hazard around Santa Maria, mostly in June and August. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (68 days) and flash flooding (53 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Excessive heat70Jun 2026Jun 25, 2023 · 1 death
Damaging thunderstorm winds68May 2026May 2, 2000 · $5.0 million damage
Flash flooding53Jun 2026Mar 27, 2025 · $105 million damage
Flooding34Sep 2025Jul 24, 2008 · $38 million damage
High winds14Apr 2025Jan 8, 2024 · $525,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill7Jan 2026—
Lightning casualties & damage6Sep 2024May 16, 2020 · $7.0 million damage
Hurricanes & tropical storms5Jul 2020Jul 23, 2008 · $420 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 Inland Cameron forecast zone and Cameron County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Santa Maria?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBRO (Brownsville, TX), about 29 miles east-southeast. 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 Santa MariaView
KBRO
Brownsville, TX		29 mi east-southeast1,700 ftExcellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KCRP
Corpus Christi, TX		120 mi north12,700 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KEWX
San Antonio, TX		251 mi north43,000 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 Santa Maria

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 72 tornadoes within 25 miles of Santa Maria, 5 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in September and August. The strongest was an F3 on May 12, 1969, which touched down about 14 miles northeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on March 27, 2025, which touched down about 16 miles north-northwest of town.

Hail: 115 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 21 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on April 20, 2012.

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 Santa Maria'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.

Santa Maria radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Santa Maria, TX?

KBRO (Brownsville, TX), about 29 miles east-southeast. KCRP (Corpus Christi, TX) is 120 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Santa Maria?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Santa Maria the lowest scan from KBRO is about 1,700 ft up — excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground.

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

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