Gillespie, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Gillespie, Macoupin County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Gillespie?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 106 days in the Macoupin forecast zone and Macoupin County — the most common reported hazard around Gillespie, mostly in June and May. Next come excessive heat (46 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (45 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 106 | Jun 2026 | May 21, 2024 · $50,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 46 | Aug 2023 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 45 | Nov 2025 | Dec 1, 2006 · $2.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 26 | Jul 2022 | Jul 26, 2022 · $15,000 damage |
| High winds | 6 | Nov 2019 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Dec 2008 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 5 | Sep 2005 | Apr 10, 2001 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 4 | Jan 2024 | Dec 16, 2000 · 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 Macoupin forecast zone and Macoupin County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Gillespie get?
A normal year brings about 14 inches of snow to Gillespie, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Mt Olive 1 E weather station 7.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (5.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.7 | 2.9 | 5.7 | 2.8 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 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 Gillespie?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLSX (St. Louis, MO), about 55 miles west-southwest. 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 Gillespie | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLSX St. Louis, MO | 55 mi west-southwest | 4,100 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 75 mi north-northeast | 6,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KVWX Evansville, IN | 128 mi east-southeast | 14,000 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 Gillespie
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 123 tornadoes within 25 miles of Gillespie, 29 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on April 3, 1981, which passed about 22 miles south-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF2 on May 16, 2025, which passed about 24 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 262 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 20 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 28, 2011.
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 Gillespie'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.
Gillespie radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Gillespie, IL?
KLSX (St. Louis, MO), about 55 miles west-southwest. KILX (Lincoln, IL) is 75 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Gillespie?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Gillespie the lowest scan from KLSX is about 4,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Gillespie 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 Gillespie, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Benld, IL radar 2 mi
- Mount Olive, IL radar 6 mi
- Staunton, IL radar 8 mi
- Litchfield, IL radar 9 mi
- Bunker Hill, IL radar 9 mi
- Carlinville, IL radar 11 mi
- Worden, IL radar 13 mi
- Brighton, IL radar 18 mi
- Hillsboro, IL radar 19 mi
- Bethalto, IL radar 20 mi