Carbondale, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Carbondale, Jackson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Carbondale?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 137 days in the Jackson forecast zone and Jackson County — the most common reported hazard around Carbondale, mostly in March and May. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (119 days) and excessive heat (86 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 137 | Sep 2024 | Jun 18, 2008 · 1 death · $30,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 119 | Apr 2026 | May 8, 2009 · 1 death · $100 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 86 | Aug 2025 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 48 | Jan 2026 | Feb 11, 2008 · 1 death · $500,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 42 | Jul 2024 | May 10, 1996 · $200,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 27 | Feb 2026 | Feb 13, 2014 · 1 death |
| High winds | 12 | Mar 2025 | Sep 14, 2008 · $1.5 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 7 | Jan 2025 | Jan 5, 2025 · $200,000 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 Jackson forecast zone and Jackson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Carbondale get?
A normal year brings about 11 inches of snow to Carbondale, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Carbondale Sewage Plt weather station 3.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (4.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 0.0 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 4.0 | 1.3 | 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 Carbondale?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPAH (Paducah, KY), about 52 miles south-southeast. 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 Carbondale | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPAH Paducah, KY | 52 mi south-southeast | 3,700 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KVWX Evansville, IN | 90 mi east-northeast | 8,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLSX St. Louis, MO | 104 mi northwest | 10,200 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 Carbondale
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 110 tornadoes within 25 miles of Carbondale, 34 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F5 on December 18, 1957, which passed about 25 miles north of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on May 20, 2025, which touched down about 20 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 268 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 23 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on June 30, 2023.
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 Carbondale'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.
Carbondale radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Carbondale, IL?
KPAH (Paducah, KY), about 52 miles south-southeast. KVWX (Evansville, IN) is 90 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Carbondale?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Carbondale the lowest scan from KPAH is about 3,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Carbondale 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 Carbondale, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Cambria, IL radar 7 mi
- Carterville, IL radar 8 mi
- Crainville, IL radar 9 mi
- Herrin, IL radar 12 mi
- Royalton, IL radar 12 mi
- Cobden, IL radar 13 mi
- Marion, IL radar 15 mi
- Zeigler, IL radar 16 mi