Cape Girardeau, MO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Cape Girardeau?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 136 days in the Cape Girardeau forecast zone and Cape Girardeau County — the most common reported hazard around Cape Girardeau, mostly in May and March. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (132 days) and excessive heat (90 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 136 | Apr 2026 | Jul 1, 2019 · $9.0 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 132 | Apr 2026 | May 8, 2009 · $3.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 90 | Aug 2025 | Jul 21, 2005 · 2 deaths |
| Flash flooding | 51 | Jul 2024 | May 12, 2002 · $300,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 41 | Jan 2026 | Feb 11, 2008 · $3.0 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 21 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 10 | Jan 2025 | Jan 5, 2025 · $325,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 9 | Aug 2014 | May 2, 2002 · $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 Cape Girardeau forecast zone and Cape Girardeau County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Cape Girardeau get?
A normal year brings about 7.5 inches of snow to Cape Girardeau, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Jackson weather station 7.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (2.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.1 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 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 Cape Girardeau?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPAH (Paducah, KY), about 46 miles east-southeast. 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 Cape Girardeau | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPAH Paducah, KY | 46 mi east-southeast | 3,200 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLSX St. Louis, MO | 114 mi north-northwest | 11,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KVWX Evansville, IN | 120 mi northeast | 12,700 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 Cape Girardeau
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 139 tornadoes within 25 miles of Cape Girardeau, 41 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an EF3 on May 16, 2025, which passed about 24 miles south of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on June 7, 2025, which passed about 17 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 239 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 21 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on May 16, 2025.
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 Cape Girardeau'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.
Cape Girardeau radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Cape Girardeau, MO?
KPAH (Paducah, KY), about 46 miles east-southeast. KLSX (St. Louis, MO) is 114 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Cape Girardeau?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Cape Girardeau the lowest scan from KPAH is about 3,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Cape Girardeau 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 Cape Girardeau, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Scott City, MO radar 6 mi
- Jackson, MO radar 7 mi
- Chaffee, MO radar 11 mi
- Oran, MO radar 16 mi
- Marble Hill, MO radar 23 mi
- Advance, MO radar 24 mi
- Sikeston, MO radar 29 mi
- Charleston, MO radar 30 mi
- Perryville, MO radar 34 mi
- Bloomfield, MO radar 36 mi