Brighton, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Brighton, Macoupin County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Brighton?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 106 days in the Macoupin forecast zone and Macoupin County — the most common reported hazard around Brighton, mostly in June and May. Next come excessive heat (46 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (45 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 106 | Jun 2026 | May 21, 2024 · $50,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 46 | Aug 2023 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 45 | Nov 2025 | Dec 1, 2006 · $2.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 26 | Jul 2022 | Jul 26, 2022 · $15,000 damage |
| High winds | 6 | Nov 2019 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Dec 2008 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 5 | Sep 2005 | Apr 10, 2001 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 4 | Jan 2024 | Dec 16, 2000 · 1 death |
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 Macoupin forecast zone and Macoupin County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Brighton get?
A normal year brings about 17 inches of snow to Brighton, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Medora 1 S weather station 8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (5.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 5.1 | 4.9 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 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 Brighton?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLSX (St. Louis, MO), about 38 miles southwest. 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 Brighton | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLSX St. Louis, MO | 38 mi southwest | 2,400 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 88 mi north-northeast | 7,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KVWX Evansville, IN | 141 mi east-southeast | 16,500 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 Brighton
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 127 tornadoes within 25 miles of Brighton, 34 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F4 on January 24, 1967, which passed about 15 miles south of town and caused 3 deaths. The most recent was an EF2 on May 16, 2025, which passed about 19 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 384 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 35 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on April 9, 2015.
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 Brighton'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.
Brighton radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Brighton, IL?
KLSX (St. Louis, MO), about 38 miles southwest. KILX (Lincoln, IL) is 88 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Brighton?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Brighton the lowest scan from KLSX is about 2,400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Brighton 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 Brighton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Godfrey, IL radar 8 mi
- Alton, IL radar 9 mi
- Bunker Hill, IL radar 10 mi
- Bethalto, IL radar 11 mi
- East Alton, IL radar 11 mi
- Jerseyville, IL radar 11 mi
- Wood River, IL radar 13 mi
- Hartford, IL radar 16 mi
- Roxana, IL radar 16 mi
- South Roxana, IL radar 16 mi