Van Buren, MO Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Van Buren, Carter County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for Van BurenWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Van Buren?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged dangerous heat on 91 days in the Carter forecast zone and Carter County — the most common reported hazard around Van Buren, mostly in July and August. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (60 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (40 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Excessive heat91Aug 2025—
Damaging thunderstorm winds60Apr 2026Jun 21, 2019 · 1 death · $20,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms40Jan 2026Feb 11, 2008 · $1.0 million damage
Flooding31Sep 2025May 1, 2017 · $10 million damage
Flash flooding30Nov 2024Mar 9, 2006 · 1 death · $25,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill21Jan 2026—
High winds6Mar 2025Sep 14, 2008 · $2.0 million damage
Ice storms & sleet5Feb 2013Feb 21, 2013 · $100,000 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 Carter forecast zone and Carter County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Van Buren?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLSX (St. Louis, MO), about 118 miles north. 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over Van BurenView
KLSX
St. Louis, MO		118 mi north12,400 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KPAH
Paducah, KY		123 mi east13,300 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KNQA
Memphis, TN		132 mi south-southeast14,700 ftLimited — 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 Van Buren

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 64 tornadoes within 25 miles of Van Buren, 24 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and March. The strongest was an F4 on May 21, 1957, which crossed near town and caused 7 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on April 2, 2025, which touched down about 21 miles southeast of town.

Hail: 151 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 18 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on March 13, 2006.

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 Van Buren'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.

Van Buren radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Van Buren, MO?

KLSX (St. Louis, MO), about 118 miles north. KPAH (Paducah, KY) is 123 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Van Buren?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Van Buren the lowest scan from KLSX is about 12,400 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.

Is TALON's radar for Van Buren 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 Van Buren, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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