Franklin, MO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Franklin, Howard County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Franklin?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 78 days in the Howard forecast zone and Howard County — the most common reported hazard around Franklin, mostly in May and June. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (30 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (23 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 78 | Jun 2020 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 30 | Sep 2025 | Jul 9, 2002 · $200,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 23 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 15 | Aug 2023 | — |
| Flash flooding | 15 | Jun 2019 | Jun 1, 2019 · $200,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 8 | Dec 2022 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Feb 2019 | Jan 30, 2002 · $1.0 million damage |
| Blizzards | 2 | Nov 2018 | — |
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 Howard forecast zone and Howard County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Franklin get?
A normal year brings about 10 inches of snow to Franklin, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the New Franklin 1W weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually February (3.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.5 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 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 Franklin?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KEAX (Kansas City, MO), about 82 miles west. 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 Franklin | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KEAX Kansas City, MO | 82 mi west | 7,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLSX St. Louis, MO | 114 mi east | 11,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KSGF Springfield, MO | 128 mi south-southwest | 14,000 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 Franklin
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 58 tornadoes within 25 miles of Franklin, 16 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F3 on November 10, 1998, which touched down about 23 miles east of town. The most recent was an EF1 on April 20, 2025, which passed about 23 miles east of town.
Hail: 322 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 36 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on June 17, 2009.
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 Franklin'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.
Franklin radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Franklin, MO?
KEAX (Kansas City, MO), about 82 miles west. KLSX (St. Louis, MO) is 114 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Franklin?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Franklin the lowest scan from KEAX 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 Franklin 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 Franklin, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- New Franklin, MO radar 1 mi
- Boonville, MO radar 3 mi
- Fayette, MO radar 10 mi
- Glasgow, MO radar 16 mi
- Slater, MO radar 22 mi
- Columbia, MO radar 23 mi
- Tipton, MO radar 25 mi
- Marshall, MO radar 25 mi
- California, MO radar 28 mi
- Salisbury, MO radar 29 mi