St. Elmo, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for St. Elmo, Fayette County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits St. Elmo?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 74 days in the Fayette forecast zone and Fayette County — the most common reported hazard around St. Elmo, mostly in June and July. Next come excessive heat (47 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (42 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 74 | Jun 2026 | May 26, 2024 · $25,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 47 | Aug 2023 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 42 | Nov 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 22 | Jun 2026 | Jul 20, 2025 · $600,000 damage |
| Flooding | 5 | Apr 2013 | Mar 19, 2008 · $40,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Feb 2022 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 4 | Jan 2024 | — |
| High winds | 2 | Mar 2001 | — |
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 Fayette forecast zone and Fayette County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does St. Elmo get?
A normal year brings about 16 inches of snow to St. Elmo, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Beecher City weather station 11.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (5.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.4 | 3.0 | 5.9 | 4.9 | 1.9 | 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 St. Elmo?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KVWX (Evansville, IN), about 80 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 St. Elmo | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KVWX Evansville, IN | 80 mi southeast | 6,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 82 mi north-northwest | 7,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLSX St. Louis, MO | 101 mi west-southwest | 9,800 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 St. Elmo
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 86 tornadoes within 25 miles of St. Elmo, 22 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F3 on April 5, 1958, which passed about 15 miles west-southwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on July 6, 2025, which touched down about 18 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 133 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 13 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on April 10, 2001.
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 St. Elmo'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.
St. Elmo radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to St. Elmo, IL?
KVWX (Evansville, IN), about 80 miles southeast. KILX (Lincoln, IL) is 82 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in St. Elmo?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over St. Elmo the lowest scan from KVWX is about 6,900 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for St. Elmo 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 St. Elmo, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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