Lake Ka-Ho, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lake Ka-Ho, Macoupin County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lake Ka-Ho?
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 Lake Ka-Ho, 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 Lake Ka-Ho get?
A normal year brings about 14 inches of snow to Lake Ka-Ho, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Mt Olive 1 E weather station 2.9 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 Lake Ka-Ho?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLSX (St. Louis, MO), about 57 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 Lake Ka-Ho | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLSX St. Louis, MO | 57 mi west-southwest | 4,300 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 76 mi north-northeast | 6,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KVWX Evansville, IN | 123 mi east-southeast | 13,300 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 Lake Ka-Ho
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 122 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lake Ka-Ho, 27 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: 248 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 23 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 Lake Ka-Ho'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.
Lake Ka-Ho radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lake Ka-Ho, IL?
KLSX (St. Louis, MO), about 57 miles west-southwest. KILX (Lincoln, IL) is 76 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lake Ka-Ho?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lake Ka-Ho the lowest scan from KLSX is about 4,300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Lake Ka-Ho 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 Lake Ka-Ho, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Mount Olive, IL radar 2 mi
- Benld, IL radar 3 mi
- Gillespie, IL radar 4 mi
- Staunton, IL radar 6 mi
- Litchfield, IL radar 7 mi
- Bunker Hill, IL radar 12 mi
- Worden, IL radar 13 mi
- Carlinville, IL radar 14 mi
- Hillsboro, IL radar 16 mi
- Bethalto, IL radar 21 mi