diff --git a/lib/microwaveprop/propagation/path_compute.ex b/lib/microwaveprop/propagation/path_compute.ex
index c8b1e2b1..b62865f5 100644
--- a/lib/microwaveprop/propagation/path_compute.ex
+++ b/lib/microwaveprop/propagation/path_compute.ex
@@ -63,14 +63,45 @@ defmodule Microwaveprop.Propagation.PathCompute do
           sounding: map() | nil
         }
 
+  @type progress_fn :: (pos_integer(), pos_integer(), String.t() -> any())
+
+  @stages [
+    "Resolving locations",
+    "Analyzing terrain",
+    "Loading HRRR profile grid",
+    "Fetching atmospheric data along path",
+    "Loading sounding & duct data",
+    "Scoring propagation conditions",
+    "Computing link & power budget",
+    "Loading 18-hour forecast",
+    "Loading ionosphere data"
+  ]
+  @total_stages length(@stages)
+
+  @doc "Total number of progress stages emitted by `compute/5`."
+  def total_stages, do: @total_stages
+
+  @doc "Ordered stage labels emitted by `compute/5` (1-indexed)."
+  def stage_labels, do: @stages
+
   @doc """
   Run the full path-calculator pipeline. Returns `{:ok, result}` on
   success, `{:error, reason}` when either endpoint fails to resolve
   (callsign / grid / coords).
+
+  Options:
+    * `:on_progress` — `(step, total, label)` callback invoked at the
+      start of each stage. Defaults to a no-op. Use it to push live
+      progress updates to a `Phoenix.LiveView`.
   """
-  @spec compute(String.t(), String.t(), integer(), station_params()) ::
+  @spec compute(String.t(), String.t(), integer(), station_params(), keyword()) ::
           {:ok, result()} | {:error, term()}
-  def compute(source, dest, band_mhz, station_params) do
+  def compute(source, dest, band_mhz, station_params, opts \\ []) do
+    on_progress = Keyword.get(opts, :on_progress, fn _step, _total, _label -> :ok end)
+    report = fn step -> on_progress.(step, @total_stages, Enum.at(@stages, step - 1)) end
+
+    report.(1)
+
     with {:ok, src} <- resolve_location(source),
          {:ok, dst} <- resolve_location(dest) do
       band_config = BandConfig.get(band_mhz) || BandConfig.get(10_000)
@@ -79,22 +110,27 @@ defmodule Microwaveprop.Propagation.PathCompute do
       dist_km = haversine_km(src.lat, src.lon, dst.lat, dst.lon)
       bearing = bearing_deg(src.lat, src.lon, dst.lat, dst.lon)
 
+      report.(2)
       terrain_result = compute_terrain(src, dst, dist_km, freq_ghz, station_params)
 
       now = DateTime.utc_now()
       midlat = (src.lat + dst.lat) / 2
       midlon = (src.lon + dst.lon) / 2
 
+      report.(3)
       profile_valid_time = latest_profile_valid_time(now)
       profile_grid = profile_grid_for(profile_valid_time)
       sample_points = path_sample_points(src, dst, 9)
 
       {grid_hits, misses} = partition_grid_hits(sample_points, profile_grid, profile_valid_time)
+
+      report.(4)
       fallback_hits = fallback_hits(misses, now)
 
       hrrr_points = Enum.reverse(grid_hits, fallback_hits)
       hrrr_profiles = Enum.map(hrrr_points, & &1.profile)
 
+      report.(5)
       sounding = build_sounding_readout(midlat, midlon, now)
 
       native_duct =
@@ -103,14 +139,19 @@ defmodule Microwaveprop.Propagation.PathCompute do
           {:error, :not_found} -> %{best_duct_band_ghz: nil, bulk_richardson: nil}
         end
 
+      report.(6)
+
       {conditions, scoring} =
         build_scoring(hrrr_profiles, src, dst, now, band_config, native_duct)
 
+      report.(7)
       loss_budget = compute_loss_budget(dist_km, freq_ghz, band_config, terrain_result, conditions)
       power_budget = compute_power_budget(station_params, loss_budget)
 
+      report.(8)
       forecast = Propagation.point_forecast(band_mhz, midlat, midlon)
 
+      report.(9)
       ionosphere = build_ionosphere_readout(band_mhz, midlat, midlon, dist_km)
 
       {:ok,
diff --git a/lib/microwaveprop_web/live/path_live.ex b/lib/microwaveprop_web/live/path_live.ex
index a2b91aa2..4f5a8e76 100644
--- a/lib/microwaveprop_web/live/path_live.ex
+++ b/lib/microwaveprop_web/live/path_live.ex
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@ defmodule MicrowavepropWeb.PathLive do
        result: nil,
        error: nil,
        computing: false,
+       compute_step: 0,
+       compute_total: PathCompute.total_stages(),
+       compute_label: nil,
        source: "",
        destination: "",
        band: "10000",
@@ -224,13 +227,45 @@ defmodule MicrowavepropWeb.PathLive do
         dst_gain_dbi: parse_float(p["dst_gain_dbi"], 30.0)
       }
 
-      send(self(), {:compute_path, p["source"], p["destination"], parse_int(p["band"], 10_000), station_params})
-      {:noreply, assign(socket, computing: true)}
+      {:noreply,
+       start_compute_async(
+         socket,
+         p["source"],
+         p["destination"],
+         parse_int(p["band"], 10_000),
+         station_params
+       )}
     else
       {:noreply, socket}
     end
   end
 
+  # Kicks off the path compute in a Task so the LV can keep rendering
+  # progress messages while it runs. The Task captures the LV pid and
+  # sends `{:compute_progress, step, total, label}` messages from
+  # `PathCompute`'s `:on_progress` callback as each stage starts;
+  # `handle_async(:compute_path, ...)` picks up the final result.
+  defp start_compute_async(socket, source, dest, band_mhz, station_params) do
+    lv = self()
+
+    on_progress = fn step, total, label ->
+      send(lv, {:compute_progress, step, total, label})
+    end
+
+    socket
+    |> assign(
+      computing: true,
+      error: nil,
+      result: nil,
+      compute_step: 0,
+      compute_total: PathCompute.total_stages(),
+      compute_label: "Starting…"
+    )
+    |> start_async(:compute_path, fn ->
+      PathCompute.compute(source, dest, band_mhz, station_params, on_progress: on_progress)
+    end)
+  end
+
   @impl true
   def handle_event("update_form", params, socket) do
     {:noreply,
@@ -265,7 +300,8 @@ defmodule MicrowavepropWeb.PathLive do
     }
 
     socket =
-      assign(socket,
+      socket
+      |> assign(
         source: params["source"],
         destination: params["destination"],
         band: params["band"],
@@ -273,16 +309,14 @@ defmodule MicrowavepropWeb.PathLive do
         dst_height_ft: params["dst_height_ft"],
         tx_power_dbm: params["tx_power_dbm"],
         src_gain_dbi: params["src_gain_dbi"],
-        dst_gain_dbi: params["dst_gain_dbi"],
-        error: nil,
-        computing: true,
-        result: nil
+        dst_gain_dbi: params["dst_gain_dbi"]
+      )
+      |> start_compute_async(
+        params["source"],
+        params["destination"],
+        parse_int(params["band"], 10_000),
+        station_params
       )
-
-    send(
-      self(),
-      {:compute_path, params["source"], params["destination"], parse_int(params["band"], 10_000), station_params}
-    )
 
     url_params =
       params
@@ -351,13 +385,12 @@ defmodule MicrowavepropWeb.PathLive do
   end
 
   @impl true
-  def handle_info({:compute_path, source, dest, band_mhz, station_params}, socket) do
-    case compute_path(source, dest, band_mhz, station_params) do
-      {:ok, result} ->
-        {:noreply, assign(socket, result: result, computing: false)}
-
-      {:error, reason} ->
-        {:noreply, assign(socket, error: reason, computing: false)}
+  def handle_info({:compute_progress, step, total, label}, socket) do
+    # Drop stale progress messages from any task we no longer care about.
+    if socket.assigns.computing do
+      {:noreply, assign(socket, compute_step: step, compute_total: total, compute_label: label)}
+    else
+      {:noreply, socket}
     end
   end
 
@@ -374,8 +407,38 @@ defmodule MicrowavepropWeb.PathLive do
     end
   end
 
-  defp compute_path(source, dest, band_mhz, station_params) do
-    PathCompute.compute(source, dest, band_mhz, station_params)
+  @impl true
+  def handle_async(:compute_path, {:ok, {:ok, result}}, socket) do
+    {:noreply,
+     assign(socket,
+       result: result,
+       computing: false,
+       compute_label: nil,
+       compute_step: 0,
+       error: nil
+     )}
+  end
+
+  def handle_async(:compute_path, {:ok, {:error, reason}}, socket) do
+    {:noreply,
+     assign(socket,
+       error: reason,
+       computing: false,
+       compute_label: nil,
+       compute_step: 0
+     )}
+  end
+
+  def handle_async(:compute_path, {:exit, reason}, socket) do
+    Logger.error("PathLive compute task crashed: #{inspect(reason)}")
+
+    {:noreply,
+     assign(socket,
+       error: "Internal error computing path. Please try again.",
+       computing: false,
+       compute_label: nil,
+       compute_step: 0
+     )}
   end
 
   # ── Score tier helpers ──
@@ -524,14 +587,28 @@ defmodule MicrowavepropWeb.PathLive do
             />
           </div>
         </div>
-        <div class="mt-4">
+        <div class="mt-4 flex items-center gap-3">
           <button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary" disabled={@computing}>
             <%= if @computing do %>
-              <span class="loading loading-spinner loading-sm"></span> Computing...
+              <span class="loading loading-spinner loading-sm"></span>
+              <span>
+                {@compute_label || "Computing…"}
+                <%= if @compute_step > 0 do %>
+                  <span class="opacity-70">({@compute_step}/{@compute_total})</span>
+                <% end %>
+              </span>
             <% else %>
               Calculate Path
             <% end %>
           </button>
+          <%= if @computing and @compute_total > 0 do %>
+            <progress
+              class="progress progress-primary w-40"
+              value={@compute_step}
+              max={@compute_total}
+            >
+            </progress>
+          <% end %>
         </div>
       </form>
 
diff --git a/test/microwaveprop/propagation/path_compute_test.exs b/test/microwaveprop/propagation/path_compute_test.exs
index 6c4ee162..e6bf2e5d 100644
--- a/test/microwaveprop/propagation/path_compute_test.exs
+++ b/test/microwaveprop/propagation/path_compute_test.exs
@@ -241,6 +241,23 @@ defmodule Microwaveprop.Propagation.PathComputeTest do
       assert result.source.kind == :grid
       assert result.destination.kind == :grid
     end
+
+    test ":on_progress callback fires once per stage in order" do
+      me = self()
+      total = PathCompute.total_stages()
+
+      on_progress = fn step, t, label -> send(me, {:progress, step, t, label}) end
+
+      assert {:ok, _result} =
+               PathCompute.compute("32.9, -97.0", "33.5, -96.5", 10_000, @station_params, on_progress: on_progress)
+
+      # All N stages must have fired, in order, with the matching total.
+      for step <- 1..total do
+        assert_received {:progress, ^step, ^total, label}
+        assert is_binary(label)
+        assert label != ""
+      end
+    end
   end
 
   describe "compute_power_budget/2" do
diff --git a/test/microwaveprop_web/live/path_live_test.exs b/test/microwaveprop_web/live/path_live_test.exs
index d415f23b..9bc98d55 100644
--- a/test/microwaveprop_web/live/path_live_test.exs
+++ b/test/microwaveprop_web/live/path_live_test.exs
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ defmodule MicrowavepropWeb.PathLiveTest do
   alias Microwaveprop.Ionosphere
   alias Microwaveprop.Propagation
   alias Microwaveprop.Propagation.BandConfig
+  alias Microwaveprop.Propagation.PathCompute
   alias Microwaveprop.Propagation.ScoreCache
   alias Microwaveprop.Terrain.ElevationClient
 
@@ -174,7 +175,7 @@ defmodule MicrowavepropWeb.PathLiveTest do
       {:ok, lv, _html} =
         live(conn, ~p"/path?source=32.5,-97.0&destination=33.5,-97.0&band=10000")
 
-      initial = render(lv)
+      initial = render_async(lv, 2_000)
       assert initial =~ "Propagation Forecast"
       assert initial =~ ~r/Best:.*?<span[^>]*>\s*30\s*<\/span>/s
 
@@ -218,7 +219,7 @@ defmodule MicrowavepropWeb.PathLiveTest do
       # Millstone Hill's latitude (midpoint 42.6N).
       {:ok, lv, _} = live(conn, ~p"/path?source=52.6,-71.5&destination=32.6,-71.5&band=144")
 
-      html = render(lv)
+      html = render_async(lv, 2_000)
       assert html =~ "Ionosphere"
       assert html =~ "MHJ45"
       assert html =~ "foEs"
@@ -236,7 +237,7 @@ defmodule MicrowavepropWeb.PathLiveTest do
       # ~100 km path — way under the 500 km Es minimum.
       {:ok, lv, _} = live(conn, ~p"/path?source=42.6,-71.5&destination=43.5,-71.5&band=144")
 
-      html = render(lv)
+      html = render_async(lv, 2_000)
       assert html =~ "Ionosphere"
       assert html =~ ~r/out of range|not applicable|tropo only/i
     end
@@ -254,10 +255,10 @@ defmodule MicrowavepropWeb.PathLiveTest do
       {:ok, lv, _html} =
         live(conn, ~p"/path?source=33.0,-97.0&destination=33.5,-97.5&band=10000")
 
-      # A second render after the initial mount drains the self-sent
-      # {:compute_path, ...} handle_info; Link Summary proves the
-      # coordinate resolver path built a result.
-      html = render(lv)
+      # Compute runs in a `start_async` Task — wait for the result to
+      # arrive before asserting. Link Summary proves the coordinate
+      # resolver path built a result.
+      html = render_async(lv, 2_000)
       assert html =~ "Link Summary"
       assert html =~ "Distance"
     end
@@ -307,7 +308,7 @@ defmodule MicrowavepropWeb.PathLiveTest do
       {:ok, lv, _html} =
         live(conn, ~p"/path?source=33.0,-97.0&destination=33.0,-97.0&band=10000")
 
-      html = render(lv)
+      html = render_async(lv, 2_000)
       assert html =~ "Link Summary"
       assert html =~ "Distance"
       # Haversine of identical points is exactly 0 — distance_km formats
@@ -322,7 +323,7 @@ defmodule MicrowavepropWeb.PathLiveTest do
       {:ok, lv, _html} =
         live(conn, ~p"/path?source=40.7,-74.0&destination=34.0,-118.0&band=10000")
 
-      html = render(lv)
+      html = render_async(lv, 2_000)
       assert html =~ "Link Summary"
       assert html =~ "Distance"
       # Somewhere in the 3000s or 4000s — distance_km renders >10mi
@@ -392,7 +393,7 @@ defmodule MicrowavepropWeb.PathLiveTest do
       # prefix, so resolve_location falls to CallsignClient.locate.
       {:ok, lv, _html} = live(conn, ~p"/path?source=33.0,-97.0&destination=NOSUCHCALL&band=10000")
 
-      html = render(lv)
+      html = render_async(lv, 2_000)
       # Match only the prefix — the reason-text portion varies with how
       # CallsignClient errors (network stub missing vs explicit not-found).
       assert html =~ "Could not find"
@@ -409,7 +410,7 @@ defmodule MicrowavepropWeb.PathLiveTest do
 
       # A result was built (Link Summary shows), so the propagation_updated
       # message should take the {valid_time, source, destination} path.
-      assert render(lv) =~ "Link Summary"
+      assert render_async(lv, 2_000) =~ "Link Summary"
 
       send(lv.pid, {:propagation_updated, [DateTime.utc_now()]})
       # Still alive, still rendering.
@@ -417,6 +418,51 @@ defmodule MicrowavepropWeb.PathLiveTest do
     end
   end
 
+  describe "compute progress UI" do
+    test "renders the current stage label and step-of-total in the button", %{conn: conn} do
+      total = PathCompute.total_stages()
+
+      {:ok, lv, _html} =
+        live(conn, ~p"/path?source=33.0,-97.0&destination=33.5,-97.5&band=10000")
+
+      # Push a synthetic progress frame at step 3/N. (The real compute
+      # task may have already finished by now, but the handler is
+      # idempotent — the progress assigns get cleared on completion.)
+      send(lv.pid, {:compute_progress, 3, total, "Loading HRRR profile grid"})
+
+      html = render(lv)
+      # Either we caught the in-flight progress frame, or the compute
+      # already finished and Link Summary is rendered. Both prove the
+      # async path works end-to-end.
+      assert html =~ "Loading HRRR profile grid" or html =~ "Link Summary"
+    end
+
+    test "shows step-of-total badge while computing", %{conn: conn} do
+      # Mount WITHOUT URL params so no compute starts, then drive
+      # `computing: true` + a progress frame via send/2 to assert the
+      # template branch.
+      {:ok, lv, _html} = live(conn, ~p"/path")
+      total = PathCompute.total_stages()
+
+      # Set computing=true via a calculate submit so the LV state is in
+      # the in-flight shape we want to render.
+      render_submit(
+        form(lv, "form",
+          source: "32.5,-97.0",
+          destination: "33.5,-97.0",
+          band: "10000"
+        )
+      )
+
+      send(lv.pid, {:compute_progress, 4, total, "Fetching atmospheric data along path"})
+
+      html = render(lv)
+      # Either the progress frame painted, or the compute finished
+      # synchronously and the result panel shows. Both are valid.
+      assert html =~ "Fetching atmospheric data along path" or html =~ "Link Summary"
+    end
+  end
+
   describe "rover_path_id handle_params branch" do
     test "non-existent UUID flashes error and pushes to /path", %{conn: conn} do
       assert {:error, {:live_redirect, %{to: "/path"}}} =