Cobalt, MO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Cobalt, Madison County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Cobalt?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 50 days in the Madison forecast zone and Madison County — the most common reported hazard around Cobalt, mostly in May and August. Next come excessive heat (49 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (33 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 50 | May 2026 | Oct 23, 2001 · $200,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 49 | Aug 2023 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 33 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 23 | Jul 2025 | Apr 3, 1999 · 1 death · $6.0 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 7 | Jan 2025 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 3 | Jan 2014 | — |
| High winds | 2 | Mar 2001 | — |
| Flooding | 2 | Jan 2013 | Jan 12, 2013 · 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 Cobalt get?
A normal year brings about 9.3 inches of snow to Cobalt, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Fredericktown weather station 2.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (3.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 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 Cobalt?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLSX (St. Louis, MO), about 83 miles north-northwest. 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 Cobalt | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLSX St. Louis, MO | 83 mi north-northwest | 7,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KPAH Paducah, KY | 90 mi east-southeast | 8,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KVWX Evansville, IN | 148 mi east-northeast | 17,800 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 Cobalt
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 98 tornadoes within 25 miles of Cobalt, 36 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F4 on June 22, 1969, which passed about 12 miles north of town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on June 7, 2025, which touched down about 11 miles north of town.
Hail: 144 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 17 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on August 19, 2014.
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 Cobalt'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.
Cobalt radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Cobalt, MO?
KLSX (St. Louis, MO), about 83 miles north-northwest. KPAH (Paducah, KY) is 90 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Cobalt?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Cobalt the lowest scan from KLSX is about 7,200 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Cobalt 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 Cobalt, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Fredericktown, MO radar 2 mi
- Farmington, MO radar 18 mi
- Ironton, MO radar 19 mi
- Park Hills, MO radar 22 mi
- Marble Hill, MO radar 24 mi
- Bismarck, MO radar 24 mi
- Perryville, MO radar 26 mi
- Desloge, MO radar 26 mi
- Leadwood, MO radar 27 mi
- Bonne Terre, MO radar 30 mi