Palmer, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Palmer, Christian County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Palmer?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 118 days in the Christian forecast zone and Christian County — the most common reported hazard around Palmer, mostly in June and May. Next come flash flooding (45 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (33 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 118 | Jun 2026 | Jul 19, 2010 · $110,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 45 | Jul 2025 | Aug 26, 2014 · $4.4 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 33 | Jan 2026 | Dec 30, 1997 · 2 deaths |
| Excessive heat | 13 | Aug 2023 | — |
| High winds | 11 | Mar 2023 | Mar 8, 2009 · $22,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 7 | Jan 2026 | Jan 6, 2014 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 7 | Jun 2018 | Dec 27, 2015 · 4 deaths · $2.8 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Jan 2024 | — |
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 Christian forecast zone and Christian County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Palmer get?
A normal year brings about 16 inches of snow to Palmer, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Morrisonville weather station 4.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (5.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 0.6 | 3.2 | 5.9 | 3.9 | 2.4 | 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 Palmer?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KILX (Lincoln, IL), about 48 miles north. 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 Palmer | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 48 mi north | 3,400 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLSX St. Louis, MO | 86 mi southwest | 7,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KVWX Evansville, IN | 123 mi southeast | 13,200 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 Palmer
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 156 tornadoes within 25 miles of Palmer, 36 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on June 14, 1957, which passed about 24 miles north-northwest of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF2 on December 28, 2025, which passed about 23 miles northeast of town.
Hail: 258 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 27 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 Palmer'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.
Palmer radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Palmer, IL?
KILX (Lincoln, IL), about 48 miles north. KLSX (St. Louis, MO) is 86 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Palmer?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Palmer the lowest scan from KILX is about 3,400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Palmer 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 Palmer, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Taylorville, IL radar 9 mi
- Nokomis, IL radar 13 mi
- Pawnee, IL radar 13 mi
- Edinburg, IL radar 14 mi
- Divernon, IL radar 15 mi
- Pana, IL radar 17 mi
- Assumption, IL radar 20 mi
- Virden, IL radar 20 mi
- Auburn, IL radar 20 mi