La Plata, MO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for La Plata, Macon County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits La Plata?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 63 days in the Macon forecast zone and Macon County — the most common reported hazard around La Plata, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (26 days) and flash flooding (25 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 63 | Aug 2025 | Aug 10, 2006 · $40,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 26 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 25 | Jul 2021 | — |
| Excessive heat | 14 | Aug 2023 | Aug 6, 2007 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 11 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 8 | Feb 2019 | Jan 30, 2002 · $200,000 damage |
| Flooding | 5 | Jul 2020 | — |
| 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 Macon forecast zone and Macon County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does La Plata get?
A normal year brings about 19 inches of snow to La Plata, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Kirksville weather station 13.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (6.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 1.3 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 4.6 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 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 La Plata?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KEAX (Kansas City, MO), about 126 miles southwest. 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 La Plata | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KEAX Kansas City, MO | 126 mi southwest | 13,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KLSX St. Louis, MO | 133 mi southeast | 15,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 134 mi north-northwest | 15,200 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 La Plata
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 45 tornadoes within 25 miles of La Plata, 16 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F4 on April 23, 1975, which passed about 24 miles south of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on August 9, 2025, which touched down about 19 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 192 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 19 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on April 23, 1975.
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 La Plata'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.
La Plata radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to La Plata, MO?
KEAX (Kansas City, MO), about 126 miles southwest. KLSX (St. Louis, MO) is 133 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in La Plata?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over La Plata the lowest scan from KEAX is about 13,800 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for La Plata 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 La Plata, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Kirksville, MO radar 13 mi
- Macon, MO radar 20 mi
- Edina, MO radar 20 mi
- Marceline, MO radar 32 mi
- Shelbina, MO radar 33 mi
- Memphis, MO radar 35 mi
- Brookfield, MO radar 35 mi
- Milan, MO radar 36 mi
- Huntsville, MO radar 41 mi
- Unionville, MO radar 41 mi