Live Storm Tracker - Real-Time Hail & Tornado Radar
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How Storm Tracker Works
NEXRAD Radar
Live Doppler radar data from NOAA's national weather radar network. Updated every 2 minutes with real-time storm cell tracking.
Yellow Pins
Radar-detected storm cells with estimated hail size. These are potential hail-bearing storms identified by NEXRAD algorithms.
Red Pins
Verified reports from the Storm Prediction Center. These are confirmed ground-level impacts from trained storm spotters.
Understanding Threat Levels
Understanding the SPC Convective Outlook
The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) is NOAA's authority on severe weather forecasting. Every day, the SPC issues a Convective Outlook that shows where severe thunderstorms are most likely to occur. For roofing contractors and storm chasers, the SPC outlook is the #1 tool for planning where to be when storms hit.
SPC Risk Levels Explained
General Thunder (TSTM)
Thunderstorms are possible but not expected to reach severe limits. Lightning and brief heavy rain likely. Not typically a storm chasing day.
Marginal Risk (Level 1)
Isolated severe storms possible. Expect scattered hail up to 1" and wind gusts to 60 mph. About 5% of the area could see severe weather. Worth monitoring if you're in the area.
Slight Risk (Level 2)
Scattered severe storms expected. Hail 1-1.5", damaging winds, and a few tornadoes possible. Good storm chasing conditions. About 15% of the area could see severe weather. This is when roofers should start paying attention.
Enhanced Risk (Level 3)
Numerous severe storms expected with large hail (1.5-2"+), widespread damaging winds, and several tornadoes possible. Prime storm chasing day. About 30% of the area will see severe weather. High probability of roof damage in affected areas.
Moderate Risk (Level 4)
Widespread severe weather outbreak expected. Very large hail (2"+), destructive winds, and multiple tornadoes likely, some intense (EF2+). Significant severe weather event. Issued only ~25 times per year. Expect major roofing demand in affected regions.
High Risk (Level 5)
Rare. A major severe weather outbreak with violent tornadoes (EF3-EF5), giant hail (3"+), and extreme winds expected. Life-threatening conditions — tornado emergency likely. Issued only ~5 times per year. Historic damage events like Joplin, Moore, and El Reno were HIGH risk days.
Pro Tip: The SPC outlook is released around 6 AM, 1 PM, and updated throughout the day. For storm chasers and roofing contractors, Enhanced (ENH) and Moderate (MDT) risk days are when you want to be positioned and ready. These are the days that generate the most hail damage claims.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Storm Tracker?
Storm Tracker is a real-time severe weather monitoring tool that displays live NEXRAD Doppler radar data and SPC (Storm Prediction Center) verified storm reports. It helps roofing contractors and storm chasers track active hail, wind, and tornado events.
How often is the radar updated?
Radar imagery and storm cell data are updated every 2 minutes. The radar tiles come from Iowa State University's Mesonet service, which aggregates data from all NEXRAD stations across the United States.
What do the colored pins mean?
Yellow pins indicate radar-detected storm cells with potential hail. These are algorithmic detections that haven't been ground-verified yet. Red pins are verified reports from the Storm Prediction Center - confirmed hail, wind, or tornado observations from trained spotters.
Can I see tornado warnings?
Yes. Storm cells with Tornado Vortex Signatures (TVS) are specially marked, and confirmed tornado touchdowns appear as red pins with a tornado icon. For official warnings, always refer to the National Weather Service.
What is the SPC Convective Outlook?
The SPC (Storm Prediction Center) Convective Outlook is a daily forecast showing where severe thunderstorms are most likely to occur. It uses a 5-level risk scale: Marginal, Slight, Enhanced, Moderate, and High. Each level indicates the probability and intensity of expected severe weather including large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes.
What SPC risk level should roofers watch for?
Slight (SLGT) and above are when you should start paying attention. Enhanced (ENH) risk days typically produce widespread roof damage from 1.5"+ hail. Moderate (MDT) risk days are rare (~25/year) but often result in major damage events with high insurance claim volumes.
Check Storm History for Any Address
Look up past hail storms to support insurance claims or find damage opportunities.
View Hail Map