West Alton, MO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for West Alton, St. Charles County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits West Alton?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 162 days in the St. Charles forecast zone and St. Charles County — the most common reported hazard around West Alton, mostly in June and May. Next come excessive heat (78 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (49 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 162 | Jun 2026 | May 7, 2002 · $1.8 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 78 | Aug 2025 | Jul 1, 2012 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 49 | Nov 2025 | Nov 30, 2006 · $20 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 41 | Jun 2026 | Jul 26, 2022 · $10 million damage |
| Flooding | 20 | Jun 2019 | May 3, 2019 · 2 deaths |
| High winds | 13 | Mar 2025 | Mar 14, 2025 · $20,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 7 | Feb 2022 | Jan 12, 2007 · $169,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 6 | Jun 2014 | Jun 21, 2014 · $487,000 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 St. Charles forecast zone and St. Charles County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does West Alton get?
A normal year brings about 11 inches of snow to West Alton, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Edwardsville 2 W weather station 11.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (3.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.2 | 3.3 | 3.7 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 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 West Alton?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLSX (St. Louis, MO), about 28 miles west-southwest. 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 West Alton | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLSX St. Louis, MO | 28 mi west-southwest | 1,700 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 100 mi north-northeast | 9,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KVWX Evansville, IN | 140 mi east-southeast | 16,300 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 West Alton
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 159 tornadoes within 25 miles of West Alton, 41 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on February 10, 1959, which passed about 14 miles south-southeast of town and caused 21 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on June 4, 2025, which passed about 24 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 793 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 96 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 25, 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 West Alton'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.
West Alton radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to West Alton, MO?
KLSX (St. Louis, MO), about 28 miles west-southwest. KILX (Lincoln, IL) is 100 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in West Alton?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over West Alton the lowest scan from KLSX is about 1,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for West Alton 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 West Alton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.