Imperial, MO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Imperial, Jefferson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Imperial?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 111 days in the Jefferson forecast zone and Jefferson County — the most common reported hazard around Imperial, mostly in July and June. Next come excessive heat (64 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (47 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 111 | Apr 2026 | Aug 10, 2020 · 1 death |
| Excessive heat | 64 | Aug 2025 | Jul 14, 2006 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 47 | Jan 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 38 | Apr 2025 | Jul 1, 2015 · 2 deaths · $4.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 15 | May 2017 | Apr 30, 2017 · 1 death |
| Ice storms & sleet | 7 | Feb 2022 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 7 | Jun 2016 | Jun 25, 2016 · 1 death |
| High winds | 6 | Mar 2002 | — |
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 Jefferson forecast zone and Jefferson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Imperial get?
A normal year brings about 9.2 inches of snow to Imperial, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Festus weather station 8.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (2.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 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 Imperial?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLSX (St. Louis, MO), about 29 miles 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 Imperial | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLSX St. Louis, MO | 29 mi northwest | 1,800 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KPAH Paducah, KY | 125 mi southeast | 13,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 136 mi north-northeast | 15,600 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 Imperial
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 154 tornadoes within 25 miles of Imperial, 31 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on February 10, 1959, which passed about 16 miles north-northwest of town and caused 21 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on June 7, 2025, which passed about 23 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 793 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 87 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 25, 2011.
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 Imperial'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.
Imperial radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Imperial, MO?
KLSX (St. Louis, MO), about 29 miles northwest. KPAH (Paducah, KY) is 125 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Imperial?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Imperial the lowest scan from KLSX is about 1,800 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Imperial 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 Imperial, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Pevely, MO radar 5 mi
- Arnold, MO radar 5 mi
- Herculaneum, MO radar 7 mi
- Crystal City, MO radar 9 mi
- Festus, MO radar 9 mi
- Byrnes Mill, MO radar 12 mi
- Green Park, MO radar 12 mi
- Sunset Hills, MO radar 12 mi
- Fenton, MO radar 13 mi
- Hillsboro, MO radar 13 mi