Vandalia, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Vandalia, Fayette County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Vandalia?
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 Vandalia, 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 Vandalia get?
A normal year brings about 13 inches of snow to Vandalia, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Ramsey weather station 12 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (4.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.5 | 2.4 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 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 Vandalia?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KILX (Lincoln, IL), about 82 miles north. 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 Vandalia | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 82 mi north | 7,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLSX St. Louis, MO | 87 mi west-southwest | 7,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KVWX Evansville, IN | 90 mi east-southeast | 8,200 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 Vandalia
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 89 tornadoes within 25 miles of Vandalia, 21 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F3 on December 2, 1950, which passed about 15 miles west-southwest of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on July 6, 2025, which touched down about 9 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 148 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 28, 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 Vandalia'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.
Vandalia radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Vandalia, IL?
KILX (Lincoln, IL), about 82 miles north. KLSX (St. Louis, MO) is 87 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Vandalia?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Vandalia the lowest scan from KILX is about 7,200 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Vandalia 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 Vandalia, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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