Madison, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Madison, Madison County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Madison?
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 Madison, 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 Madison get?
A normal year brings about 14 inches of snow to Madison, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Cahokia weather station 9.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (4.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.8 | 2.9 | 4.9 | 3.7 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 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 Madison?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLSX (St. Louis, MO), about 31 miles west. 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 Madison | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLSX St. Louis, MO | 31 mi west | 1,900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 109 mi north-northeast | 11,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KVWX Evansville, IN | 132 mi east-southeast | 14,800 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 Madison
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 171 tornadoes within 25 miles of Madison, 52 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on February 10, 1959, which passed about 3 miles west-southwest of town and caused 21 deaths. The most recent was an EF2 on May 16, 2025, which passed about 4 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 916 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 103 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 25, 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 Madison'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.
Madison radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Madison, IL?
KLSX (St. Louis, MO), about 31 miles west. KILX (Lincoln, IL) is 109 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Madison?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Madison the lowest scan from KLSX is about 1,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Madison 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 Madison, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.