Clayton, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Clayton, Adams County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Clayton?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 124 days in the Adams forecast zone and Adams County — the most common reported hazard around Clayton, mostly in June and July. Next come excessive heat (43 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (42 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 124 | Apr 2026 | Sep 18, 2022 · $50,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 43 | Aug 2023 | Jul 17, 2011 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 42 | Nov 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 25 | May 2025 | Jun 18, 2008 · $500,000 damage |
| Flooding | 12 | Jun 2013 | Jun 4, 2008 · $124,000 damage |
| High winds | 8 | Nov 2019 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 8 | Jan 2022 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 6 | Jan 2025 | — |
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 Adams forecast zone and Adams County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Clayton get?
A normal year brings about 14 inches of snow to Clayton, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Mt Sterling weather station 11.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (5.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.6 | 3.5 | 5.3 | 2.8 | 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 Clayton?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KILX (Lincoln, IL), about 86 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 Clayton | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 86 mi east | 7,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLSX St. Louis, MO | 93 mi south | 8,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 111 mi north | 11,300 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 Clayton
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 72 tornadoes within 25 miles of Clayton, 18 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F3 on June 21, 1981, which passed about 22 miles northeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on April 20, 2025, which passed about 21 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 220 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 24 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 11, 2016.
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 Clayton'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.
Clayton radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Clayton, IL?
KILX (Lincoln, IL), about 86 miles east. KLSX (St. Louis, MO) is 93 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Clayton?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Clayton the lowest scan from KILX is about 7,700 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Clayton 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 Clayton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Camp Point, IL radar 6 mi
- Mount Sterling, IL radar 11 mi
- Rushville, IL radar 22 mi
- Quincy, IL radar 23 mi
- Barry, IL radar 23 mi
- Griggsville, IL radar 25 mi
- Beardstown, IL radar 28 mi
- Carthage, IL radar 28 mi
- Colchester, IL radar 29 mi
- Pittsfield, IL radar 31 mi