Unity, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Unity, Alexander County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Unity?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 194 days in the Alexander forecast zone and Alexander County — the most common reported hazard around Unity, mostly in May and April. Next come excessive heat (91 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (62 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 194 | Apr 2026 | Jul 1, 2019 · $10 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 91 | Aug 2025 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 62 | Mar 2025 | Feb 18, 2000 · $500,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 40 | Jan 2026 | Jan 26, 2009 · $10 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 21 | Aug 2023 | Mar 1, 1997 · $400,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 18 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 9 | Jan 2025 | Jan 5, 2025 · $40,000 damage |
| High winds | 6 | Feb 2009 | Sep 14, 2008 · $8.5 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 Alexander forecast zone and Alexander County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Unity get?
A normal year brings about 7.2 inches of snow to Unity, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Grand Chain Dam 53 weather station 13.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (2.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 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 Unity?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPAH (Paducah, KY), about 28 miles east-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 Unity | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPAH Paducah, KY | 28 mi east-southeast | 1,700 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KHPX Fort Campbell, KY | 113 mi east-southeast | 11,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KVWX Evansville, IN | 114 mi northeast | 11,800 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 Unity
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 140 tornadoes within 25 miles of Unity, 39 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on May 6, 2003, which passed about 16 miles east-northeast of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on May 20, 2025, which touched down about 19 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 237 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 18 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 16, 2025.
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 Unity'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.
Unity radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Unity, IL?
KPAH (Paducah, KY), about 28 miles east-southeast. KHPX (Fort Campbell, KY) is 113 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Unity?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Unity the lowest scan from KPAH is about 1,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Unity 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 Unity, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Jonesboro, IL radar 21 mi
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- Vienna, IL radar 28 mi
- Metropolis, IL radar 32 mi
- Goreville, IL radar 32 mi
- Carbondale, IL radar 39 mi
- Murphysboro, IL radar 43 mi
- Crainville, IL radar 43 mi