Prairie du Rocher, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Prairie du Rocher, Randolph County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Prairie du Rocher?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 89 days in the Randolph forecast zone and Randolph County — the most common reported hazard around Prairie du Rocher, mostly in May and June. Next come excessive heat (52 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (35 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 89 | Mar 2026 | May 19, 2022 · $200,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 52 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 35 | Jan 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 19 | Apr 2025 | Apr 4, 2025 · $30,000 damage |
| Flooding | 11 | Jan 2016 | Jun 4, 2008 · $16,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Feb 2022 | — |
| High winds | 3 | Mar 2001 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 3 | Jan 2014 | — |
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 Randolph forecast zone and Randolph County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Prairie du Rocher get?
A normal year brings about 4.3 inches of snow to Prairie du Rocher, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Kaskaskia Rvr Navigation Lock weather station 10.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (1.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 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 Prairie du Rocher?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLSX (St. Louis, MO), about 53 miles northwest. 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 Prairie du Rocher | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLSX St. Louis, MO | 53 mi northwest | 3,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KPAH Paducah, KY | 101 mi southeast | 9,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KVWX Evansville, IN | 130 mi east | 14,400 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 Prairie du Rocher
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 125 tornadoes within 25 miles of Prairie du Rocher, 30 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F3 on May 15, 1968, which touched down about 24 miles north-northeast of town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on May 19, 2025, which touched down about 21 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 276 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 17 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on March 20, 1976.
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 Prairie du Rocher'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.
Prairie du Rocher radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Prairie du Rocher, IL?
KLSX (St. Louis, MO), about 53 miles northwest. KPAH (Paducah, KY) is 101 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Prairie du Rocher?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Prairie du Rocher the lowest scan from KLSX is about 3,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Prairie du Rocher 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 Prairie du Rocher, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- New Athens, IL radar 20 mi
- Marissa, IL radar 21 mi
- Smithton, IL radar 24 mi
- Steeleville, IL radar 24 mi
- Millstadt, IL radar 26 mi