Athens, WI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Athens, Marathon County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Athens?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 108 days in the Marathon forecast zone and Marathon County — the most common reported hazard around Athens, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (86 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (21 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 108 | Jun 2026 | Jul 16, 1997 · $3.3 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 86 | Mar 2026 | Apr 13, 2018 · $50,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 21 | Jan 2026 | Feb 3, 2015 · 1 death |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 18 | Aug 2013 | Oct 6, 2007 · $8.3 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 16 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 15 | Jul 2016 | Mar 16, 2016 · $10,000 damage |
| High winds | 14 | Dec 2025 | Oct 23, 2007 · $500,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 12 | Apr 2026 | Jun 22, 2002 · $1.6 million 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 Marathon forecast zone and Marathon County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Athens get?
A normal year brings about 51 inches of snow to Athens, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Goodrich 1 E weather station 7.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (11.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 6.0 | 9.1 | 11.0 | 9.7 | 9.3 | 4.6 | 0.2 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Athens?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 100 miles south-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 Athens | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 100 mi south-southwest | 9,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KGRB Green Bay, WI | 103 mi east-southeast | 10,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMQT Marquette, MI | 160 mi northeast | 20,200 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 Athens
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 68 tornadoes within 25 miles of Athens, 21 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on June 4, 1958, which passed about 9 miles south of town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was an EF2 on May 15, 2025, which passed about 14 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 144 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 12 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on July 13, 2024.
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 Athens'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.
Athens radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Athens, WI?
KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 100 miles south-southwest. KGRB (Green Bay, WI) is 103 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Athens?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Athens the lowest scan from KARX is about 9,600 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Athens 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 Athens, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Edgar, WI radar 10 mi
- Marathon City, WI radar 13 mi
- Abbotsford, WI radar 13 mi
- Colby, WI radar 14 mi
- Medford, WI radar 15 mi
- Stratford, WI radar 16 mi
- Maine, WI radar 19 mi
- Merrill, WI radar 21 mi
- Rib Mountain, WI radar 22 mi
- Wausau, WI radar 22 mi