Cowden, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Cowden, Shelby County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Cowden?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 98 days in the Shelby forecast zone and Shelby County — the most common reported hazard around Cowden, mostly in June and May. Next come flash flooding (50 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (34 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 98 | Jun 2026 | Aug 16, 2012 · $3.2 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 50 | Jun 2026 | Mar 31, 2022 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 34 | Jan 2026 | Dec 1, 2006 · $700,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 13 | Aug 2023 | — |
| High winds | 12 | Jun 2025 | Apr 2, 2016 · $15,000 damage |
| Flooding | 11 | Jun 2026 | Dec 27, 2015 · $1.0 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 8 | Jan 2026 | Jan 15, 2013 · 1 death |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 7 | May 2013 | May 26, 2013 · 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 Shelby forecast zone and Shelby County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Cowden get?
A normal year brings about 16 inches of snow to Cowden, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Beecher City weather station 6.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (5.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.4 | 3.0 | 5.9 | 4.9 | 1.9 | 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 Cowden?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KILX (Lincoln, IL), about 67 miles north-northwest. 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 Cowden | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 67 mi north-northwest | 5,400 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KVWX Evansville, IN | 92 mi southeast | 8,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLSX St. Louis, MO | 105 mi west-southwest | 10,400 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 Cowden
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 99 tornadoes within 25 miles of Cowden, 24 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F3 on August 21, 1977, which passed about 17 miles northeast of town and caused 6 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on July 6, 2025, which touched down about 20 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 140 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 10 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on April 10, 2001.
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 Cowden'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.
Cowden radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Cowden, IL?
KILX (Lincoln, IL), about 67 miles north-northwest. KVWX (Evansville, IN) is 92 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Cowden?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Cowden the lowest scan from KILX is about 5,400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Cowden 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 Cowden, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Shelbyville, IL radar 12 mi
- Altamont, IL radar 15 mi
- St. Elmo, IL radar 16 mi
- Pana, IL radar 16 mi
- Effingham, IL radar 19 mi
- Windsor, IL radar 19 mi
- Assumption, IL radar 21 mi
- Teutopolis, IL radar 22 mi
- Neoga, IL radar 22 mi
- Nokomis, IL radar 23 mi