Richmond, KY Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Richmond, Madison County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Richmond?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 115 days in the Madison forecast zone and Madison County — the most common reported hazard around Richmond, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (46 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (24 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 115 | Dec 2025 | Mar 1, 2017 · $100,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 46 | Jun 2026 | Jun 27, 2026 · 2 deaths |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 24 | Jan 2026 | Jan 24, 2026 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 17 | Feb 2021 | Apr 14, 2015 · 1 death · $20,000 damage |
| High winds | 8 | Sep 2024 | Apr 2, 2016 · $10,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Feb 2021 | Feb 15, 2003 · $80,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 4 | Jul 2018 | Aug 21, 2013 · 2 deaths |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 1 | Feb 2015 | Feb 16, 2015 · 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 Richmond get?
A normal year brings about 1.3 inches of snow to Richmond, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Richmond State Police weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually January (0.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 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 Richmond?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KJKL (Jackson, KY), about 55 miles east. 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 Richmond | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KJKL Jackson, KY | 55 mi east | 4,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLVX Louisville, KY | 91 mi west | 8,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMRX Knoxville, TN | 119 mi south-southeast | 12,500 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 Richmond
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 68 tornadoes within 25 miles of Richmond, 17 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on April 3, 1974, which passed about 7 miles northwest of town and caused 7 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on October 19, 2025, which touched down about 19 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 226 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 29 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on July 10, 1966.
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 Richmond'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.
Richmond radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Richmond, KY?
KJKL (Jackson, KY), about 55 miles east. KLVX (Louisville, KY) is 91 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Richmond?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Richmond the lowest scan from KJKL is about 4,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Richmond 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 Richmond, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Berea, KY radar 10 mi
- Lancaster, KY radar 17 mi
- Irvine, KY radar 18 mi
- Nicholasville, KY radar 18 mi
- Winchester, KY radar 20 mi
- Clay City, KY radar 22 mi
- Wilmore, KY radar 22 mi
- Brodhead, KY radar 23 mi
- Lexington-Fayette, KY radar 23 mi
- Stanford, KY radar 24 mi