Rockwood, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Rockwood, Randolph County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Rockwood?
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 Rockwood, 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 Rockwood get?
A normal year brings about 12 inches of snow to Rockwood, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Chester weather station 8.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (3.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.5 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 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 Rockwood?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPAH (Paducah, KY), about 73 miles 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 Rockwood | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPAH Paducah, KY | 73 mi southeast | 6,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLSX St. Louis, MO | 80 mi northwest | 6,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KVWX Evansville, IN | 111 mi east-northeast | 11,300 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 Rockwood
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 97 tornadoes within 25 miles of Rockwood, 31 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on December 18, 1957, which passed about 15 miles southeast of town and caused 11 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on June 7, 2025, which passed about 20 miles south of town.
Hail: 190 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 13 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 Rockwood'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.
Rockwood radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Rockwood, IL?
KPAH (Paducah, KY), about 73 miles southeast. KLSX (St. Louis, MO) is 80 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Rockwood?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Rockwood the lowest scan from KPAH is about 6,100 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Rockwood 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 Rockwood, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Chester, IL radar 10 mi
- Steeleville, IL radar 12 mi
- Murphysboro, IL radar 20 mi
- Sparta, IL radar 21 mi
- De Soto, IL radar 25 mi
- Pinckneyville, IL radar 26 mi
- Carbondale, IL radar 27 mi
- Du Quoin, IL radar 27 mi
- Marissa, IL radar 29 mi
- Red Bud, IL radar 31 mi