Cairo, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Cairo, Alexander County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Cairo?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 194 days in the Alexander forecast zone and Alexander County — the most common reported hazard around Cairo, mostly in May and April. Next come excessive heat (91 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (62 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 194 | Apr 2026 | Jul 1, 2019 · $10 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 91 | Aug 2025 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 62 | Mar 2025 | Feb 18, 2000 · $500,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 40 | Jan 2026 | Jan 26, 2009 · $10 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 21 | Aug 2023 | Mar 1, 1997 · $400,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 18 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 9 | Jan 2025 | Jan 5, 2025 · $40,000 damage |
| High winds | 6 | Feb 2009 | Sep 14, 2008 · $8.5 million damage |
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 Alexander forecast zone and Alexander County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Cairo?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPAH (Paducah, KY), about 23 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 Cairo | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPAH Paducah, KY | 23 mi east | 1,300 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KHPX Fort Campbell, KY | 107 mi east | 10,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KVWX Evansville, IN | 118 mi northeast | 12,400 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 Cairo
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 133 tornadoes within 25 miles of Cairo, 40 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on May 6, 2003, which passed about 20 miles north-northeast of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF3 on May 16, 2025, which passed about 17 miles west of town.
Hail: 197 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 18 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 16, 2025.
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 Cairo'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.
Cairo radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Cairo, IL?
KPAH (Paducah, KY), about 23 miles east. KHPX (Fort Campbell, KY) is 107 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Cairo?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Cairo the lowest scan from KPAH is about 1,300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Cairo 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 Cairo, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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