Santa Claus, IN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Santa Claus, Spencer County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Santa Claus?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 97 days in the Spencer forecast zone and Spencer County — the most common reported hazard around Santa Claus, mostly in July and June. Next come excessive heat (68 days) and flooding (55 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 97 | Aug 2025 | Apr 19, 1996 · $200,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 68 | Aug 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 55 | Oct 2025 | Mar 18, 2008 · $250,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 48 | Jan 2026 | Jan 26, 2009 · $6.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 31 | Jul 2025 | May 25, 2004 · $1.1 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 20 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 8 | Jan 2025 | — |
| High winds | 6 | Feb 2009 | Sep 14, 2008 · $6.0 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 Spencer forecast zone and Spencer County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Santa Claus get?
A normal year brings about 8.3 inches of snow to Santa Claus, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Saint Meinrad weather station 7.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (3.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.6 | 3.0 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 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 Santa Claus?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KVWX (Evansville, IN), about 44 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 Santa Claus | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KVWX Evansville, IN | 44 mi west-northwest | 3,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLVX Louisville, KY | 54 mi east | 4,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KHPX Fort Campbell, KY | 97 mi south-southwest | 9,200 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 Santa Claus
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 106 tornadoes within 25 miles of Santa Claus, 29 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F5 on April 3, 1974, which passed about 10 miles east-southeast of town and caused 6 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on June 7, 2025, which touched down about 21 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 213 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 17 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on May 25, 2006.
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 Santa Claus'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.
Santa Claus radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Santa Claus, IN?
KVWX (Evansville, IN), about 44 miles west-northwest. KLVX (Louisville, KY) is 54 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Santa Claus?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Santa Claus the lowest scan from KVWX is about 3,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Santa Claus 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 Santa Claus, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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