Jefferson, WI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Jefferson, Jefferson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Jefferson?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 131 days in the Jefferson forecast zone and Jefferson County — the most common reported hazard around Jefferson, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (57 days) and excessive heat (42 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 131 | Jun 2026 | May 31, 1998 · $2.9 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 57 | Nov 2025 | Apr 11, 2007 · 1 death · $10,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 42 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 39 | May 2026 | Jun 1, 2004 · $23 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 35 | Jan 2026 | Jan 4, 2016 · 1 death |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 17 | Apr 2026 | Jul 7, 2008 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 16 | Apr 2026 | Jun 8, 2008 · $137 million damage |
| High winds | 14 | Dec 2021 | Nov 10, 1998 · $1.1 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 Jefferson forecast zone and Jefferson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Jefferson get?
A normal year brings about 42 inches of snow to Jefferson, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Lake Mills Wwtp weather station 6.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (11.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 2.0 | 10.9 | 10.7 | 11.4 | 4.9 | 2.1 | 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 Jefferson?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI), about 13 miles east. 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 Jefferson | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 13 mi east | 700 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 104 mi south-southeast | 10,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KGRB Green Bay, WI | 109 mi north-northeast | 11,000 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 Jefferson
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 129 tornadoes within 25 miles of Jefferson, 26 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F4 on April 27, 1984, which passed about 22 miles east of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on July 16, 2025, which passed about 23 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 360 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 45 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on May 11, 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 Jefferson'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.
Jefferson radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Jefferson, WI?
KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI), about 13 miles east. KLOT (Chicago, IL) is 104 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Jefferson?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Jefferson the lowest scan from KMKX is about 700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Jefferson 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 Jefferson, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Johnson Creek, WI radar 6 mi
- Fort Atkinson, WI radar 6 mi
- Lake Mills, WI radar 7 mi
- Cambridge, WI radar 11 mi
- Whitewater, WI radar 12 mi
- Watertown, WI radar 13 mi
- Palmyra, WI radar 14 mi
- Deerfield, WI radar 14 mi
- Waterloo, WI radar 15 mi
- Dousman, WI radar 17 mi