Rensselaer, MO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Rensselaer, Ralls County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Rensselaer?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 64 days in the Ralls forecast zone and Ralls County — the most common reported hazard around Rensselaer, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (46 days) and excessive heat (42 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 64 | Jul 2025 | Jul 9, 2021 · $1.3 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 46 | Nov 2025 | — |
| Excessive heat | 42 | Aug 2023 | — |
| Flash flooding | 17 | Jun 2021 | — |
| Flooding | 15 | Jun 2025 | Jul 29, 2008 · $10 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Jan 2017 | — |
| High winds | 5 | Mar 2002 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 4 | Jan 2024 | — |
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 Ralls forecast zone and Ralls County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Rensselaer get?
A normal year brings about 12 inches of snow to Rensselaer, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Palmyra weather station 6.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (3.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.7 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 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 Rensselaer?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLSX (St. Louis, MO), about 81 miles southeast. 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 Rensselaer | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLSX St. Louis, MO | 81 mi southeast | 7,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 121 mi east-northeast | 13,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 143 mi north-northeast | 16,900 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 Rensselaer
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 66 tornadoes within 25 miles of Rensselaer, 11 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on March 12, 2006, which passed about 10 miles west of town. The most recent was an EF0 on April 20, 2025, which touched down about 19 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 218 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 20 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 11, 2016.
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 Rensselaer'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.
Rensselaer radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Rensselaer, MO?
KLSX (St. Louis, MO), about 81 miles southeast. KILX (Lincoln, IL) is 121 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Rensselaer?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Rensselaer the lowest scan from KLSX is about 7,100 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Rensselaer 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 Rensselaer, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Hannibal, MO radar 8 mi
- Palmyra, MO radar 9 mi
- Monroe City, MO radar 10 mi
- Vandalia, MO radar 25 mi
- Shelbina, MO radar 27 mi
- Paris, MO radar 28 mi
- Bowling Green, MO radar 29 mi
- Louisiana, MO radar 30 mi
- Canton, MO radar 32 mi
- Mexico, MO radar 39 mi