St. James, MO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for St. James, Phelps County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits St. James?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 95 days in the Phelps forecast zone and Phelps County — the most common reported hazard around St. James, mostly in May and August. Next come flash flooding (55 days) and flooding (35 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 95 | Apr 2026 | Aug 4, 2022 · $100,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 55 | Jun 2026 | Dec 26, 2015 · $2.5 million damage |
| Flooding | 35 | Mar 2026 | Nov 5, 2024 · $2.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 28 | Jan 2026 | Nov 30, 2006 · $300,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 9 | Jan 2017 | Jan 12, 2007 · $5.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 9 | Aug 2012 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 7 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 5 | May 2016 | Sep 8, 2001 · $150,000 damage |
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 Phelps forecast zone and Phelps County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does St. James get?
A normal year brings about 17 inches of snow to St. James, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Rolla Missouri S&T weather station 9.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (5.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 1.3 | 3.4 | 5.6 | 4.1 | 2.6 | 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 St. James?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLSX (St. Louis, MO), about 70 miles northeast. 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 St. James | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLSX St. Louis, MO | 70 mi northeast | 5,600 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KSGF Springfield, MO | 111 mi west-southwest | 11,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KEAX Kansas City, MO | 154 mi west-northwest | 19,000 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 St. James
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 72 tornadoes within 25 miles of St. James, 18 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an EF3 on December 31, 2010, which passed about 4 miles northwest of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on May 19, 2025, which touched down about 19 miles south of town.
Hail: 310 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 21 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 30, 2004.
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 St. James'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.
St. James radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to St. James, MO?
KLSX (St. Louis, MO), about 70 miles northeast. KSGF (Springfield, MO) is 111 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in St. James?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over St. James the lowest scan from KLSX is about 5,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for St. James 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 St. James, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Rolla, MO radar 9 mi
- Cuba, MO radar 12 mi
- Steelville, MO radar 14 mi
- Belle, MO radar 20 mi
- Bourbon, MO radar 22 mi
- Owensville, MO radar 25 mi
- Salem, MO radar 25 mi
- Dixon, MO radar 26 mi
- Sullivan, MO radar 28 mi
- Gerald, MO radar 31 mi