Olmsted, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Olmsted, Pulaski County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Olmsted?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 122 days in the Pulaski forecast zone and Pulaski County — the most common reported hazard around Olmsted, mostly in March and January. Next come excessive heat (90 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (54 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 122 | Mar 2025 | Jan 3, 2015 · 1 death · $40,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 90 | Aug 2025 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 54 | May 2025 | Jun 21, 2019 · 1 death · $20,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 38 | Jan 2026 | Jan 26, 2009 · $10 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 17 | Jan 2026 | Dec 22, 2022 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 14 | Jul 2023 | Jul 19, 2023 · $150,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 9 | Jan 2025 | Jan 5, 2025 · $10,000 damage |
| High winds | 5 | Feb 2009 | Sep 14, 2008 · $6.0 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 Pulaski forecast zone and Pulaski County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Olmsted get?
A normal year brings about 7.2 inches of snow to Olmsted, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Grand Chain Dam 53 weather station 2.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (2.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 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 Olmsted?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPAH (Paducah, KY), about 19 miles east-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 Olmsted | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPAH Paducah, KY | 19 mi east-southeast | 1,100 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KHPX Fort Campbell, KY | 104 mi east-southeast | 10,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KVWX Evansville, IN | 105 mi northeast | 10,400 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 Olmsted
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 121 tornadoes within 25 miles of Olmsted, 33 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on May 6, 2003, which passed about 7 miles north-northeast of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on May 20, 2025, which touched down about 18 miles north of town.
Hail: 233 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 16 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 16, 2025.
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 Olmsted'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.
Olmsted radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Olmsted, IL?
KPAH (Paducah, KY), about 19 miles east-southeast. KHPX (Fort Campbell, KY) is 104 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Olmsted?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Olmsted the lowest scan from KPAH is about 1,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Olmsted 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 Olmsted, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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