Elsmere, KY Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Elsmere, Kenton County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Elsmere?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 87 days in the Kenton forecast zone and Kenton County — the most common reported hazard around Elsmere, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (48 days) and flash flooding (37 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 87 | Dec 2025 | Mar 2, 2017 · $200,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 48 | Jan 2026 | Jan 6, 1996 · $400,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 37 | Apr 2025 | Jun 30, 1996 · $1.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 33 | May 2026 | Jan 23, 1996 · $20,000 damage |
| High winds | 11 | Sep 2024 | Sep 14, 2008 · $18 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 8 | Aug 2023 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 7 | Nov 2018 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 3 | Dec 2022 | Feb 1, 1996 · $20,000 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 Kenton forecast zone and Kenton County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Elsmere get?
A normal year brings about 23 inches of snow to Elsmere, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Cincinnati Northern Ky Ap weather station 5.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (7.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 0.8 | 4.1 | 7.7 | 6.7 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 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 Elsmere?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KILN (Wilmington, OH), about 51 miles 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 Elsmere | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KILN Wilmington, OH | 51 mi northeast | 3,700 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLVX Louisville, KY | 101 mi southwest | 9,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KIND Indianapolis, IN | 102 mi west-northwest | 10,000 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 Elsmere
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 80 tornadoes within 25 miles of Elsmere, 21 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and June. The strongest was an F5 on April 3, 1974, which passed about 11 miles northwest of town and caused 3 deaths. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on July 20, 2025, which touched down about 18 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 312 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 25 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on October 19, 2016.
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 Elsmere'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.
Elsmere radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Elsmere, KY?
KILN (Wilmington, OH), about 51 miles northeast. KLVX (Louisville, KY) is 101 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Elsmere?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Elsmere the lowest scan from KILN is about 3,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Elsmere 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 Elsmere, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.