Jonesboro, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Jonesboro, Union County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Jonesboro?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged dangerous heat on 88 days in the Union forecast zone and Union County — the most common reported hazard around Jonesboro, mostly in July and August. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (66 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (42 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excessive heat | 88 | Aug 2025 | Jun 22, 2009 · 1 death |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 66 | Apr 2026 | May 8, 2009 · $250,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 42 | Jan 2026 | Dec 22, 2004 · 1 death · $100,000 damage |
| Flooding | 42 | Mar 2023 | Mar 18, 2008 · $1.3 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 25 | Jul 2024 | Jun 16, 2019 · 1 death · $30,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 24 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 7 | Jan 2025 | Jan 5, 2025 · $160,000 damage |
| High winds | 6 | Feb 2009 | Sep 14, 2008 · $1.5 million damage |
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 Union forecast zone and Union County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Jonesboro get?
A normal year brings about 10 inches of snow to Jonesboro, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Anna 2 Nne weather station 2.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (4.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 0.1 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 4.0 | 0.9 | 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 Jonesboro?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPAH (Paducah, KY), about 38 miles 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 Jonesboro | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPAH Paducah, KY | 38 mi southeast | 2,500 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KVWX Evansville, IN | 101 mi northeast | 9,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLSX St. Louis, MO | 116 mi northwest | 12,000 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 Jonesboro
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 125 tornadoes within 25 miles of Jonesboro, 35 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F4 on December 18, 1957, which passed about 21 miles north-northwest of town and caused 11 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on June 7, 2025, which passed about 23 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 269 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 25 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on June 30, 2023.
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 Jonesboro'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.
Jonesboro radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Jonesboro, IL?
KPAH (Paducah, KY), about 38 miles southeast. KVWX (Evansville, IN) is 101 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Jonesboro?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Jonesboro the lowest scan from KPAH is about 2,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Jonesboro 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 Jonesboro, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Anna, IL radar 2 mi
- Cobden, IL radar 6 mi
- Goreville, IL radar 18 mi
- Carbondale, IL radar 19 mi
- Vienna, IL radar 21 mi
- Murphysboro, IL radar 22 mi
- Carterville, IL radar 24 mi
- Crainville, IL radar 24 mi
- Cambria, IL radar 24 mi
- De Soto, IL radar 25 mi