Rantoul, KS Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Rantoul, Franklin County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Rantoul?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 104 days in the Franklin forecast zone and Franklin County — the most common reported hazard around Rantoul, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (49 days) and flash flooding (29 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 104 | Apr 2026 | Aug 26, 1998 · $3.3 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 49 | Jan 2026 | Jan 29, 2002 · $1.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 29 | Jul 2024 | Nov 1, 1998 · $2.5 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 21 | Jun 2012 | — |
| Flooding | 20 | Jun 2025 | Jul 1, 2007 · 1 death · $300,000 damage |
| High winds | 13 | Mar 2023 | Jun 9, 2011 · $20,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 7 | Dec 2022 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 6 | Apr 2007 | Feb 26, 1996 · $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 Franklin forecast zone and Franklin County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Rantoul get?
A normal year brings about 8.4 inches of snow to Rantoul, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Osawatomie weather station 8.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (2.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 0.1 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 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 Rantoul?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KEAX (Kansas City, MO), about 49 miles east-northeast. 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 Rantoul | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KEAX Kansas City, MO | 49 mi east-northeast | 3,400 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KTWX Topeka, KS | 68 mi west-northwest | 5,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KSGF Springfield, MO | 130 mi southeast | 14,400 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 Rantoul
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 79 tornadoes within 25 miles of Rantoul, 25 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F5 on May 20, 1957, which passed about 6 miles north-northwest of town and caused 44 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on May 19, 2024, which touched down about 18 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 493 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 48 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 17, 1997.
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 Rantoul'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.
Rantoul radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Rantoul, KS?
KEAX (Kansas City, MO), about 49 miles east-northeast. KTWX (Topeka, KS) is 68 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Rantoul?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Rantoul the lowest scan from KEAX is about 3,400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Rantoul 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 Rantoul, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Osawatomie, KS radar 9 mi
- Ottawa, KS radar 9 mi
- Wellsville, KS radar 12 mi
- Paola, KS radar 13 mi
- Baldwin City, KS radar 17 mi
- Edgerton, KS radar 17 mi
- Garnett, KS radar 20 mi
- Gardner, KS radar 20 mi
- Spring Hill, KS radar 21 mi
- La Cygne, KS radar 23 mi