Bluford, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Bluford, Jefferson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Bluford?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 94 days in the Jefferson forecast zone and Jefferson County — the most common reported hazard around Bluford, mostly in June and May. Next come excessive heat (82 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (46 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 94 | Jul 2024 | May 10, 2015 · 1 death · $45,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 82 | Aug 2025 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 46 | Jan 2026 | Jan 24, 2026 · $150,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 32 | Jul 2024 | Sep 8, 2018 · $400,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 25 | Jan 2026 | Jan 10, 1997 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 15 | Aug 2024 | Mar 18, 2008 · 2 deaths · $58,000 damage |
| High winds | 6 | Mar 2002 | Apr 30, 1997 · $20,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Jan 2010 | — |
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 Jefferson forecast zone and Jefferson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Bluford get?
A normal year brings about 10 inches of snow to Bluford, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Mt Vernon 3 Ne weather station 6.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (3.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 0.4 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Bluford?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KVWX (Evansville, IN), about 55 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.
| Radar | Distance | Lowest beam over Bluford | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KVWX Evansville, IN | 55 mi east | 4,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KPAH Paducah, KY | 87 mi south | 7,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLSX St. Louis, MO | 108 mi west-northwest | 10,900 ft | Limited — 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 Bluford
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 92 tornadoes within 25 miles of Bluford, 30 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and March. The strongest was an F4 on December 18, 1957, which passed about 3 miles northwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on March 14, 2024, which touched down about 10 miles west of town.
Hail: 171 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 15 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.50-inch hail on May 5, 1999.
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 Bluford'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.
Bluford radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Bluford, IL?
KVWX (Evansville, IN), about 55 miles east. KPAH (Paducah, KY) is 87 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Bluford?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Bluford the lowest scan from KVWX is about 4,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Bluford 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 Bluford, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Mount Vernon, IL radar 10 mi
- Ina, IL radar 15 mi
- McLeansboro, IL radar 19 mi
- Fairfield, IL radar 20 mi
- Sesser, IL radar 24 mi
- Benton, IL radar 24 mi
- Salem, IL radar 24 mi
- Centralia, IL radar 25 mi
- Central City, IL radar 26 mi
- Flora, IL radar 27 mi