Dothan Weather Radar

Dothan Live Weather

Dothan Live Weather Radar

Click to toggle between the Dothan cloud cover radar map and the Dothan precipitation radar map.

Dothan Hourly Weather Forecast

Dothan 7-Day Weather Forecast

Dothan Weather Overview

Dothan sits in the heart of the Wiregrass region in southeastern Alabama, roughly 20 miles from the Georgia border and 16 miles north of Florida. The city's humid subtropical climate delivers long, hot summers and short, mild winters — but that warmth comes loaded with severe weather risk year-round. The Dothan weather radar is essential for anyone living or working across Houston County and the surrounding tri-state area.

Tornadoes pose the most persistent threat. Southeast Alabama sits at the southern edge of the tornado corridor, and the NWS Tallahassee office (WFO TAE) issues multiple tornado watches for the Dothan area each year. The 1932 F3 tornado leveled a rural school near Dothan, killing the teacher and seven children. A November 2022 EF-1 tracked directly through northwest Dothan with 95 mph winds. Spring, March through May, demands the closest attention to the dothan al weather radar. Tropical systems compound the risk: Hurricane Michael (2018) hit southeast Alabama with hurricane-force winds and caused roughly $1.1 billion in regional damage. When tropical remnants stall here, the Choctawhatchee and Pea Rivers flood badly — as seen with Tropical Storm Alberto in 1994.

Winters are mild but cold snaps occasionally arrive — Dothan's record low is 4°F (January 1985). Summer pushes the opposite extreme, with a record high of 105°F and heat indices exceeding 100°F in July and August. Dothan averages about 53 inches of rainfall per year per NOAA records. Check the live weather radar dothan map often — storms here develop and move fast.

Dothan Weather Risks & Safety

Key weather hazards to monitor on the Dothan weather radar

Tornado Risk

Tornadoes hit Dothan hardest in spring and early summer, when warm Gulf air slams into cooler northern fronts. Supercell thunderstorms can spin up EF2+ tornadoes with very little lead time. On radar, rotation signatures inside storm cells give you a few critical minutes to reach shelter. Dothan averages several tornado warnings per year — know where your safe room or interior closet is before you need it.

Severe Thunderstorm Risk

Severe thunderstorms roll through Dothan regularly, especially spring through early fall. Expect damaging winds above 58 mph, large hail, and dangerous lightning. The radar shows you each storm cell's position, movement, and intensity — so you can tell if one is headed your way. When a thunderstorm warning drops for Dothan, get indoors and away from windows until it passes.

Hurricane & Tropical Storm Risk

Dothan sits in the path of Atlantic and Gulf tropical systems. Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, peaking in August and September when warm sea surface temperatures fuel rapid intensification. On the radar, you can track the eye wall, rain bands, and embedded tornadoes as a storm approaches. If you live in Dothan, keep your evacuation plan current and check the radar frequently once a tropical advisory is issued.

Flooding & Flash Flood Risk

Flash flooding is Dothan's most persistent weather hazard. Slow-moving thunderstorms or tropical moisture can dump enough rain to overwhelm drainage systems within hours — especially in paved urban areas where water has nowhere to go. Check the radar to see where the heaviest rain is falling and which areas to avoid. The standing rule: turn around, don't drown. Never drive through flooded roads, even if they look shallow.

How to Use Dothan Weather Radar

Follow these steps to get the most from the Dothan weather radar data.

Check Current Conditions

Look at the weather status bar at the top of the Dothan weather radar page — it shows temperature, humidity, wind speed, and current conditions across the Wiregrass region at a glance.

Watch the Radar Map

Use the animated Dothan radar map to track storm cells moving across Houston County and the tri-state area. Toggle between precipitation and cloud cover to see how storms are developing.

Monitor for Tornado Warnings

During spring severe weather season, check the doppler radar dothan map frequently. Rotating cells near US-231 or Fort Novosel can escalate quickly — the radar shows rotation signatures before warnings are issued.

Plan Around the Forecast

Check the hourly and 7-day forecast below the radar. National Peanut Festival and other outdoor events in Dothan benefit from knowing whether storm systems will clear by the afternoon.

Who Benefits from Dothan Weather Radar

How different people use the Dothan radar data

Commuters & Drivers

Drivers on US-231 and Ross Clark Circle — radar shows rain and storms on your route.

Outdoor Enthusiasts

Hikers at Dothan Rotary Trail and golfers at Highland Oaks — see storms 30 minutes out.

Event Planners & Families

National Peanut Festival planners — radar shows exactly when afternoon storms will arrive.

Outdoor Workers

Fort Novosel aviation crews and construction teams — check doppler before outdoor operations.

Dothan Weather FAQ

Common questions about Dothan weather patterns and radar

When is tornado season in Dothan, Alabama?

Tornado season in Dothan peaks from March through May, when warm Gulf moisture clashes with cold fronts pushing south through Alabama. A secondary risk period occurs in November and December. The NWS Tallahassee office (WFO TAE) covers southeast Alabama and issues tornado watches and warnings for Houston County.

How often do hurricanes affect Dothan, AL?

Dothan sits roughly 90 miles from the Gulf Coast, so it misses direct storm surge but still takes significant hits. Hurricane Michael (2018) caused an estimated $1.1 billion in damage across southeast Alabama, bringing hurricane-force winds and widespread power outages to Dothan. Tropical systems typically arrive June through November.

How much rainfall does Dothan, Alabama receive per year?

Dothan averages about 53 inches of annual rainfall, well above the national average. The wettest month is March, averaging 5.1 inches. Heavy rainfall from tropical systems and spring thunderstorms periodically causes flash flooding in low-lying areas and along the Choctawhatchee and Pea Rivers.

What was the worst tornado to hit Dothan?

The deadliest tornado in the area struck in April 1932, when an F3 leveled a rural school between Dothan and Cowarts, killing the teacher and seven children, and destroyed most of Webb. More recently, a November 2022 EF-1 tornado tracked through northwest Dothan with winds near 95 mph, snapping trees and cutting power.

How is this different from WTVY or WDHN weather radar?

WTVY and WDHN provide dothan weather radar alongside their broadcast forecasts and local meteorologist commentary — great for storm-by-storm analysis. This page offers a clean, ad-free interface focused on interactive RainViewer radar maps, Open-Meteo hourly forecasts, and a 7-day outlook for Dothan. Radar imagery updates approximately every 10 minutes.

What is the record high and low temperature in Dothan, Alabama?

Dothan's record high is 105°F, reached multiple times, most recently on July 2, 2009. The record low is 4°F, set on January 21, 1985. Summer heat indices regularly top 100°F, making the July-August period the most dangerous for heat-related illness, particularly for outdoor workers and elderly residents.