La Crosse, WI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for La Crosse, La Crosse County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits La Crosse?
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 La Crosse, 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 La Crosse get?
A normal year brings about 54 inches of snow to La Crosse, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the La Crosse Wfo weather station 1.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (14.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 3.5 | 14.5 | 10.5 | 12.4 | 8.3 | 4.5 | 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 La Crosse?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 2 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 La Crosse | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 2 mi east | 100 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 136 mi west-northwest | 15,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 147 mi east-southeast | 17,500 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 La Crosse
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 60 tornadoes within 25 miles of La Crosse, 11 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F3 on May 5, 1965, which passed about 6 miles northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on June 26, 2025, which touched down about 23 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 329 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 52 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 La Crosse'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.
La Crosse radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to La Crosse, WI?
KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 2 miles east. KMPX (Minneapolis, MN) is 136 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in La Crosse?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over La Crosse the lowest scan from KARX is about 100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for La Crosse 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 La Crosse, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- West Salem, WI radar 9 mi
- Holmen, WI radar 10 mi
- Bangor, WI radar 12 mi
- Trempealeau, WI radar 16 mi
- Galesville, WI radar 19 mi
- Westby, WI radar 22 mi
- Sparta, WI radar 22 mi
- Cashton, WI radar 23 mi
- Viroqua, WI radar 25 mi