Palestine, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Palestine, Crawford County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Palestine?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 86 days in the Crawford forecast zone and Crawford County — the most common reported hazard around Palestine, mostly in June and May. Next come flash flooding (44 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (22 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 86 | Jun 2026 | Apr 16, 2006 · $775,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 44 | Jun 2026 | Aug 7, 2000 · 3 deaths · $1.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 22 | Jan 2026 | Dec 13, 2000 · 1 death |
| Excessive heat | 14 | Aug 2023 | Jul 23, 2011 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 12 | Aug 2021 | Jun 6, 2008 · $300,000 damage |
| High winds | 8 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 5 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 3 | Feb 2011 | Feb 1, 2011 · $600,000 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 Crawford forecast zone and Crawford County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Palestine get?
A normal year brings about 12 inches of snow to Palestine, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Palestine weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually January (4.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.5 | 3.4 | 4.3 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 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 Palestine?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KVWX (Evansville, IN), about 52 miles south. 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 Palestine | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KVWX Evansville, IN | 52 mi south | 3,700 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KIND Indianapolis, IN | 86 mi northeast | 7,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLVX Louisville, KY | 115 mi southeast | 11,900 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 Palestine
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 53 tornadoes within 25 miles of Palestine, 17 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on June 2, 1990, which passed about 22 miles west of town. The most recent was an EF1 on December 28, 2025, which touched down about 24 miles east of town.
Hail: 165 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 18 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-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 Palestine'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.
Palestine radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Palestine, IL?
KVWX (Evansville, IN), about 52 miles south. KIND (Indianapolis, IN) is 86 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Palestine?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Palestine the lowest scan from KVWX is about 3,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Palestine 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 Palestine, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Robinson, IL radar 7 mi
- Oblong, IL radar 16 mi
- Lawrenceville, IL radar 19 mi
- Bridgeport, IL radar 22 mi
- Sumner, IL radar 24 mi
- Martinsville, IL radar 27 mi
- Marshall, IL radar 28 mi
- Casey, IL radar 29 mi
- Newton, IL radar 30 mi
- Olney, IL radar 32 mi