St. Joseph, MO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for St. Joseph, Buchanan County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits St. Joseph?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 100 days in the Buchanan forecast zone and Buchanan County — the most common reported hazard around St. Joseph, mostly in June and July. Next come flooding (90 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (27 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 100 | May 2026 | Jul 26, 2000 · $1.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 90 | Jun 2019 | May 6, 2007 · $500,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 27 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 18 | Jul 2022 | Oct 4, 1998 · 1 death · $500,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 16 | Aug 2023 | Jul 18, 1999 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 10 | Feb 2025 | — |
| High winds | 6 | Mar 2023 | — |
| Blizzards | 6 | Jan 2025 | — |
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 Buchanan forecast zone and Buchanan County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does St. Joseph get?
A normal year brings about 21 inches of snow to St. Joseph, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Troy 3N weather station 15 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (5.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 1.3 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 5.9 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.1 |
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. Joseph?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KEAX (Kansas City, MO), about 72 miles south-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 St. Joseph | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KEAX Kansas City, MO | 72 mi south-southeast | 5,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KTWX Topeka, KS | 92 mi southwest | 8,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 135 mi northwest | 15,300 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. Joseph
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 84 tornadoes within 25 miles of St. Joseph, 15 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F3 on April 10, 1965, which passed about 7 miles south-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 19, 2025, which passed about 5 miles south of town.
Hail: 381 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 42 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on September 21, 1993.
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. Joseph'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. Joseph radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to St. Joseph, MO?
KEAX (Kansas City, MO), about 72 miles south-southeast. KTWX (Topeka, KS) is 92 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in St. Joseph?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over St. Joseph the lowest scan from KEAX is about 5,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for St. Joseph 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. Joseph, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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