Washington, MO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Washington, Franklin County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Washington?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 147 days in the Franklin forecast zone and Franklin County — the most common reported hazard around Washington, mostly in July and May. Next come excessive heat (60 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (45 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 147 | Apr 2026 | Aug 4, 1996 · 3 deaths |
| Excessive heat | 60 | Aug 2025 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 45 | Jan 2025 | Nov 30, 2006 · $200,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 35 | Jun 2026 | May 7, 2000 · 2 deaths · $100 million damage |
| Flooding | 15 | May 2017 | Dec 27, 2015 · $2.0 million damage |
| High winds | 9 | Mar 2025 | Mar 14, 2025 · $20,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 7 | Feb 2022 | Jan 12, 2007 · $334,000 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 Franklin forecast zone and Franklin County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Washington get?
A normal year brings about 7.9 inches of snow to Washington, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Washington weather station 2.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (2.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.4 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 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 Washington?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLSX (St. Louis, MO), about 21 miles east-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 Washington | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLSX St. Louis, MO | 21 mi east-northeast | 1,200 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 142 mi northeast | 16,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KSGF Springfield, MO | 159 mi southwest | 19,900 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 Washington
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 86 tornadoes within 25 miles of Washington, 18 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on February 10, 1959, which passed about 23 miles east of town and caused 21 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on June 4, 2025, which passed about 20 miles east of town.
Hail: 446 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 58 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on April 22, 2011.
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 Washington'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.
Washington radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Washington, MO?
KLSX (St. Louis, MO), about 21 miles east-northeast. KILX (Lincoln, IL) is 142 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Washington?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Washington the lowest scan from KLSX is about 1,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Washington 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 Washington, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Marthasville, MO radar 6 mi
- Union, MO radar 8 mi
- New Haven, MO radar 12 mi
- St. Clair, MO radar 14 mi
- Pacific, MO radar 15 mi
- Wildwood, MO radar 19 mi
- Wright City, MO radar 19 mi
- Warrenton, MO radar 20 mi
- Wentzville, MO radar 20 mi
- Lake St. Louis, MO radar 20 mi