Appleton, WI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Appleton, Outagamie County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Appleton?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 82 days in the Outagamie forecast zone and Outagamie County — the most common reported hazard around Appleton, mostly in July and August. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (70 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (17 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 82 | Jun 2026 | Sep 2, 2011 · $5.3 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 70 | Dec 2025 | Feb 9, 2020 · 1 death · $30,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 17 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 12 | Dec 2021 | Nov 10, 1998 · $50,000 damage |
| Flooding | 11 | Apr 2026 | Jun 16, 1996 · $27 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 10 | Jul 2024 | Jul 13, 2024 · $290,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 8 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 8 | Oct 2020 | Apr 20, 2017 · $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 Outagamie forecast zone and Outagamie County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Appleton get?
A normal year brings about 49 inches of snow to Appleton, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Appleton weather station 2.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (12.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 2.4 | 11.6 | 12.6 | 11.2 | 7.2 | 4.0 | 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 Appleton?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGRB (Green Bay, WI), about 20 miles 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 Appleton | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KGRB Green Bay, WI | 20 mi northeast | 1,200 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 91 mi south | 8,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 143 mi west-southwest | 16,800 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 Appleton
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 111 tornadoes within 25 miles of Appleton, 22 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and August. The strongest was an F4 on April 3, 1956, which passed about 24 miles southwest of town and caused 7 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on May 21, 2024, which touched down about 5 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 308 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 47 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on September 7, 2021.
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 Appleton'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.
Appleton radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Appleton, WI?
KGRB (Green Bay, WI), about 20 miles northeast. KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI) is 91 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Appleton?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Appleton the lowest scan from KGRB is about 1,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Appleton 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 Appleton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Greenville, WI radar 8 mi
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