Wardsville, MO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Wardsville, Cole County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Wardsville?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 69 days in the Cole forecast zone and Cole County — the most common reported hazard around Wardsville, mostly in July and May. Next come excessive heat (52 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (39 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 69 | Jun 2026 | Aug 7, 1999 · $1.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 52 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 39 | Jan 2025 | Dec 1, 2006 · $244,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 25 | Jun 2021 | Aug 1, 2016 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 14 | Jun 2026 | Jun 8, 2026 · $20,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 8 | Jun 2018 | Jul 12, 2011 · $20,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Feb 2022 | Jan 12, 2007 · $34,000 damage |
| 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 Cole forecast zone and Cole County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Wardsville get?
A normal year brings about 8.9 inches of snow to Wardsville, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Jefferson City Wtp weather station 6.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (2.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.2 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 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 Wardsville?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLSX (St. Louis, MO), about 82 miles east. 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 Wardsville | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLSX St. Louis, MO | 82 mi east | 7,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KSGF Springfield, MO | 109 mi southwest | 11,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KEAX Kansas City, MO | 114 mi west-northwest | 11,800 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 Wardsville
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 70 tornadoes within 25 miles of Wardsville, 11 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an EF3 on May 22, 2019, which passed about 3 miles north-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF2 on April 20, 2025, which touched down about 17 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 315 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 28 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on March 27, 2020.
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 Wardsville'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.
Wardsville radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Wardsville, MO?
KLSX (St. Louis, MO), about 82 miles east. KSGF (Springfield, MO) is 109 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Wardsville?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Wardsville the lowest scan from KLSX is about 7,200 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Wardsville 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 Wardsville, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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