Hamel, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Hamel, Madison County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Hamel?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 166 days in the Madison forecast zone and Madison County — the most common reported hazard around Hamel, mostly in May and July. Next come excessive heat (70 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (50 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 166 | Apr 2026 | Aug 10, 2005 · $1.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 70 | Aug 2025 | Jul 1, 2012 · 2 deaths |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 50 | Nov 2025 | Mar 3, 2008 · 2 deaths |
| Flash flooding | 27 | Aug 2020 | Jun 6, 2008 · $1,000 damage |
| Flooding | 13 | Apr 2026 | Jun 2, 2019 · $25 million damage |
| High winds | 9 | Mar 2025 | Sep 26, 1996 · $50,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Feb 2022 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 5 | Jan 2024 | Dec 22, 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 Madison forecast zone and Madison County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Hamel get?
A normal year brings about 11 inches of snow to Hamel, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Edwardsville 2 W weather station 10.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (3.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.2 | 3.3 | 3.7 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 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 Hamel?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLSX (St. Louis, MO), about 47 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 Hamel | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLSX St. Louis, MO | 47 mi west-southwest | 3,300 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 91 mi north-northeast | 8,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KVWX Evansville, IN | 122 mi east-southeast | 13,100 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 Hamel
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 150 tornadoes within 25 miles of Hamel, 44 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on February 10, 1959, which passed about 23 miles southwest of town and caused 21 deaths. The most recent was an EF2 on May 16, 2025, which passed about 10 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 418 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 43 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.75-inch hail on March 14, 2024.
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 Hamel'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.
Hamel radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Hamel, IL?
KLSX (St. Louis, MO), about 47 miles west-southwest. KILX (Lincoln, IL) is 91 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Hamel?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Hamel the lowest scan from KLSX is about 3,300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Hamel 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 Hamel, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Worden, IL radar 3 mi
- Staunton, IL radar 9 mi
- Edwardsville, IL radar 11 mi
- Bethalto, IL radar 11 mi
- Highland, IL radar 12 mi
- Troy, IL radar 12 mi
- Bunker Hill, IL radar 12 mi
- Glen Carbon, IL radar 12 mi
- Roxana, IL radar 12 mi
- St. Jacob, IL radar 13 mi