Salem, IN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Salem, Washington County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Salem?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 101 days in the Washington forecast zone and Washington County — the most common reported hazard around Salem, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (27 days) and flash flooding (26 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 101 | Jun 2026 | Mar 1, 2017 · $150,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 27 | Jan 2026 | Jan 5, 2025 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 26 | Jun 2026 | May 27, 2004 · $250,000 damage |
| Flooding | 25 | Feb 2025 | Jan 17, 2007 · 1 death · $15,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Feb 2022 | — |
| High winds | 3 | Apr 2016 | Apr 2, 2016 · $5,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 1 | Dec 2012 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | Jul 2014 | Jul 13, 2014 · $100,000 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 Washington forecast zone and Washington County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Salem get?
A normal year brings about 14 inches of snow to Salem, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Salem weather station 1 mile away. The snowiest month is usually January (4.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 0.2 | 2.2 | 4.9 | 4.1 | 2.2 | 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 Salem?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLVX (Louisville, KY), about 44 miles south. 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 Salem | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLVX Louisville, KY | 44 mi south | 3,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KIND Indianapolis, IN | 77 mi north | 6,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KVWX Evansville, IN | 91 mi west-southwest | 8,400 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 Salem
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 106 tornadoes within 25 miles of Salem, 30 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and March. The strongest was an F5 on April 3, 1974, which passed about 11 miles southeast of town and caused 6 deaths. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on July 16, 2025, which touched down about 23 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 231 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 18 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on March 2, 2012.
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 Salem'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.
Salem radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Salem, IN?
KLVX (Louisville, KY), about 44 miles south. KIND (Indianapolis, IN) is 77 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Salem?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Salem the lowest scan from KLVX is about 3,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Salem 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 Salem, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- New Pekin, IN radar 8 mi
- Greenville, IN radar 17 mi
- Scottsburg, IN radar 18 mi
- Austin, IN radar 18 mi
- Crothersville, IN radar 19 mi
- Brownstown, IN radar 19 mi
- Orleans, IN radar 20 mi
- Paoli, IN radar 20 mi
- Mitchell, IN radar 22 mi
- Georgetown, IN radar 22 mi