Wood River, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Wood River, Madison County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Wood River?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 166 days in the Madison forecast zone and Madison County — the most common reported hazard around Wood River, mostly in May and July. Next come excessive heat (70 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (50 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 166 | Apr 2026 | Aug 10, 2005 · $1.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 70 | Aug 2025 | Jul 1, 2012 · 2 deaths |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 50 | Nov 2025 | Mar 3, 2008 · 2 deaths |
| Flash flooding | 27 | Aug 2020 | Jun 6, 2008 · $1,000 damage |
| Flooding | 13 | Apr 2026 | Jun 2, 2019 · $25 million damage |
| High winds | 9 | Mar 2025 | Sep 26, 1996 · $50,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Feb 2022 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 5 | Jan 2024 | Dec 22, 2000 · 1 death |
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 Madison forecast zone and Madison County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Wood River get?
A normal year brings about 11 inches of snow to Wood River, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Edwardsville 2 W weather station 5.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (3.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.2 | 3.3 | 3.7 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 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 Wood River?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLSX (St. Louis, MO), about 35 miles west-southwest. 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 Wood River | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLSX St. Louis, MO | 35 mi west-southwest | 2,200 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 97 mi north-northeast | 9,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KVWX Evansville, IN | 134 mi east-southeast | 15,100 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 Wood River
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 167 tornadoes within 25 miles of Wood River, 44 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on February 10, 1959, which passed about 14 miles south-southwest of town and caused 21 deaths. The most recent was an EF2 on May 16, 2025, which passed about 7 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 710 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 80 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 Wood River'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.
Wood River radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Wood River, IL?
KLSX (St. Louis, MO), about 35 miles west-southwest. KILX (Lincoln, IL) is 97 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Wood River?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Wood River the lowest scan from KLSX is about 2,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Wood River 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 Wood River, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- East Alton, IL radar 2 mi
- Bethalto, IL radar 3 mi
- Roxana, IL radar 3 mi
- Hartford, IL radar 4 mi
- South Roxana, IL radar 4 mi
- Alton, IL radar 5 mi
- Edwardsville, IL radar 7 mi
- Glen Carbon, IL radar 9 mi
- Granite City, IL radar 10 mi
- Pontoon Beach, IL radar 10 mi