Ridgway, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Ridgway, Gallatin County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Ridgway?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 147 days in the Gallatin forecast zone and Gallatin County — the most common reported hazard around Ridgway, mostly in March and February. Next come excessive heat (85 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (53 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 147 | Mar 2025 | Mar 18, 2008 · $1.2 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 85 | Aug 2025 | Jul 18, 1999 · 1 death |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 53 | Jul 2024 | Apr 19, 2011 · $2.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 42 | Jan 2026 | Feb 11, 2008 · $500,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 25 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 20 | Jul 2020 | May 10, 1996 · $100,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 8 | Jan 2025 | Jan 5, 2025 · $25,000 damage |
| High winds | 7 | Feb 2009 | Sep 14, 2008 · $1.5 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 Gallatin forecast zone and Gallatin County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Ridgway get?
A normal year brings about 7.5 inches of snow to Ridgway, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Jt Myers Locks & Dam weather station 14.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (3.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 2.1 | 1.7 | 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 Ridgway?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KVWX (Evansville, IN), about 43 miles northeast. 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 Ridgway | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KVWX Evansville, IN | 43 mi northeast | 2,900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KPAH Paducah, KY | 58 mi south-southwest | 4,300 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KHPX Fort Campbell, KY | 91 mi southeast | 8,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
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 Ridgway
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 80 tornadoes within 25 miles of Ridgway, 24 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and March. The strongest was an EF4 on February 29, 2012, which crossed near town and caused 8 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on May 16, 2025, which passed about 11 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 124 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 13 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.50-inch hail on August 6, 2019.
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 Ridgway'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.
Ridgway radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Ridgway, IL?
KVWX (Evansville, IN), about 43 miles northeast. KPAH (Paducah, KY) is 58 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Ridgway?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Ridgway the lowest scan from KVWX is about 2,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Ridgway 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 Ridgway, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Norris City, IL radar 13 mi
- Harrisburg, IL radar 16 mi
- Carmi, IL radar 20 mi
- Carrier Mills, IL radar 22 mi
- McLeansboro, IL radar 25 mi
- Grayville, IL radar 35 mi
- Johnston City, IL radar 37 mi
- West Frankfort, IL radar 37 mi
- Marion, IL radar 37 mi