Charleston, MO Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Charleston, Mississippi County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for CharlestonWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Charleston?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged dangerous heat on 93 days in the Mississippi forecast zone and Mississippi County — the most common reported hazard around Charleston, mostly in July and August. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (72 days) and flooding (36 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Excessive heat93Aug 2025—
Damaging thunderstorm winds72Nov 2025Apr 24, 2010 · $250,000 damage
Flooding36Mar 2025Mar 18, 2008 · $900,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms36Jan 2026Jan 26, 2009 · $21 million damage
Extreme cold & wind chill15Jan 2026—
Flash flooding10Jun 2018May 2, 2011 · $200 million damage
Ice storms & sleet8Dec 2023—
High winds6Mar 2023Sep 14, 2008 · $8.9 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 Mississippi forecast zone and Mississippi County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Charleston?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPAH (Paducah, KY), about 33 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over CharlestonView
KPAH
Paducah, KY		33 mi east-northeast2,000 ftExcellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KNQA
Memphis, TN		113 mi south-southwest11,500 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KHPX
Fort Campbell, KY		114 mi east11,800 ftLimited — 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 Charleston

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 129 tornadoes within 25 miles of Charleston, 43 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on April 22, 1981, which crossed near town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF3 on May 16, 2025, which passed about 9 miles west-northwest of town.

Hail: 168 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 14 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-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 Charleston'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.

Charleston radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Charleston, MO?

KPAH (Paducah, KY), about 33 miles east-northeast. KNQA (Memphis, TN) is 113 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Charleston?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Charleston the lowest scan from KPAH is about 2,000 ft up.

Is TALON's radar for Charleston 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 Charleston, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

Radar for nearby towns

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