French Island, WI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for French Island, La Crosse County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits French Island?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 96 days in the La Crosse forecast zone and La Crosse County — the most common reported hazard around French Island, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (70 days) and flooding (62 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 96 | Jun 2026 | Jun 27, 1998 · $275,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 70 | Mar 2026 | Nov 20, 1996 · $100,000 damage |
| Flooding | 62 | Jun 2025 | Jul 20, 2017 · $3.4 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 20 | Jan 2026 | Feb 8, 2016 · 1 death |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 17 | Aug 2020 | May 15, 2017 · $250,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 14 | Jun 2026 | Jul 2, 2012 · 2 deaths |
| Flash flooding | 12 | Aug 2021 | Aug 18, 2007 · $12 million damage |
| High winds | 9 | Mar 2026 | Nov 10, 1998 · $225,000 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 La Crosse forecast zone and La Crosse County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does French Island get?
A normal year brings about 43 inches of snow to French Island, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the La Crosse 4Nnw weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually December (11.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 1.6 | 11.6 | 9.1 | 10.9 | 6.8 | 2.6 | 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 French Island?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 4 miles southeast. 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 French Island | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 4 mi southeast | 200 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 133 mi west-northwest | 14,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 149 mi east-southeast | 18,000 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 French Island
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 57 tornadoes within 25 miles of French Island, 10 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F3 on May 5, 1965, which passed about 3 miles northwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on June 25, 2025, which passed about 23 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 342 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 54 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on July 28, 2023.
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 French Island'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.
French Island radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to French Island, WI?
KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 4 miles southeast. KMPX (Minneapolis, MN) is 133 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in French Island?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over French Island the lowest scan from KARX is about 200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for French Island 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 French Island, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- La Crosse, WI radar 3 mi
- Onalaska, WI radar 4 mi
- Holmen, WI radar 8 mi
- West Salem, WI radar 9 mi
- Trempealeau, WI radar 13 mi
- Bangor, WI radar 14 mi
- Galesville, WI radar 16 mi
- Sparta, WI radar 23 mi
- Westby, WI radar 25 mi
- Cashton, WI radar 25 mi