Swansea, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Swansea, St. Clair County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Swansea?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 181 days in the St. Clair forecast zone and St. Clair County — the most common reported hazard around Swansea, mostly in July and June. Next come excessive heat (71 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (45 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 181 | Apr 2026 | Jul 13, 2016 · 1 death |
| Excessive heat | 71 | Aug 2025 | Jul 18, 1999 · 7 deaths |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 45 | Nov 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 42 | Jul 2025 | Jul 26, 2022 · $10 million damage |
| Flooding | 13 | Jun 2019 | Jun 2, 2019 · $8.1 million damage |
| High winds | 8 | Mar 2025 | Sep 26, 1996 · $50,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 7 | Apr 2019 | Apr 18, 2019 · 1 death |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Feb 2022 | — |
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 St. Clair forecast zone and St. Clair County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Swansea get?
A normal year brings about 11 inches of snow to Swansea, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Belleville Siu Rsch weather station 7.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (3.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.6 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 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 Swansea?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLSX (St. Louis, MO), about 39 miles west-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 Swansea | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLSX St. Louis, MO | 39 mi west-northwest | 2,500 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 116 mi north-northeast | 12,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KPAH Paducah, KY | 122 mi south-southeast | 13,100 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 Swansea
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 176 tornadoes within 25 miles of Swansea, 50 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on February 10, 1959, which passed about 12 miles northwest of town and caused 21 deaths. The most recent was an EF2 on May 16, 2025, which passed about 15 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 790 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 86 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 25, 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 Swansea'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.
Swansea radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Swansea, IL?
KLSX (St. Louis, MO), about 39 miles west-northwest. KILX (Lincoln, IL) is 116 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Swansea?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Swansea the lowest scan from KLSX is about 2,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Swansea 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 Swansea, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.