Fairfield, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Fairfield, Wayne County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Fairfield?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged dangerous heat on 74 days in the Wayne forecast zone and Wayne County — the most common reported hazard around Fairfield, mostly in July and August. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (68 days) and flooding (66 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excessive heat | 74 | Aug 2025 | Jul 18, 1999 · 2 deaths |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 68 | Sep 2025 | Apr 2, 2006 · $500,000 damage |
| Flooding | 66 | Jul 2025 | Dec 24, 2013 · 1 death · $20,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 40 | Jan 2026 | Jan 26, 2009 · $500,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 33 | Jul 2025 | Jul 7, 2011 · $100,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 23 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 8 | Feb 2009 | Feb 11, 2009 · $15,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 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 Wayne forecast zone and Wayne County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Fairfield get?
A normal year brings about 12 inches of snow to Fairfield, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Cisne 2 S weather station 8.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (3.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.2 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 2.9 | 1.7 | 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 Fairfield?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KVWX (Evansville, IN), about 36 miles east-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 Fairfield | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KVWX Evansville, IN | 36 mi east-southeast | 2,300 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KPAH Paducah, KY | 93 mi south-southwest | 8,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLSX St. Louis, MO | 127 mi west | 13,900 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 Fairfield
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 86 tornadoes within 25 miles of Fairfield, 29 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F4 on December 18, 1957, which passed about 22 miles west of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on May 26, 2024, which passed about 22 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 155 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 14 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.50-inch hail on April 24, 2002.
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 Fairfield'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.
Fairfield radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Fairfield, IL?
KVWX (Evansville, IN), about 36 miles east-southeast. KPAH (Paducah, KY) is 93 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Fairfield?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Fairfield the lowest scan from KVWX is about 2,300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Fairfield 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 Fairfield, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- McLeansboro, IL radar 22 mi
- Grayville, IL radar 22 mi
- Carmi, IL radar 23 mi
- Louisville, IL radar 28 mi
- Norris City, IL radar 28 mi
- Olney, IL radar 29 mi
- Mount Vernon, IL radar 30 mi
- Mount Carmel, IL radar 33 mi