Madison, WI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Madison, Dane County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Madison?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 174 days in the Dane forecast zone and Dane County — the most common reported hazard around Madison, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (69 days) and excessive heat (47 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 174 | Jun 2026 | Sep 19, 2013 · $7.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 69 | Nov 2025 | Feb 23, 2007 · 1 death · $20,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 47 | Jun 2026 | Jul 2, 2012 · 1 death |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 41 | Apr 2026 | Aug 22, 2007 · 3 deaths · $10,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 38 | Jan 2026 | Dec 25, 2017 · 3 deaths |
| Flooding | 34 | Apr 2026 | Aug 20, 2018 · $33 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 34 | Jul 2024 | Aug 20, 2018 · 1 death · $1.0 million damage |
| High winds | 11 | Mar 2026 | Nov 10, 1998 · 1 death · $750,000 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 Dane forecast zone and Dane County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Madison get?
A normal year brings about 39 inches of snow to Madison, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Charmany Farm weather station 3.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (10.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 2.2 | 8.2 | 10.1 | 10.6 | 5.5 | 1.6 | 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 Madison?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI), about 45 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 Madison | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 45 mi east | 3,100 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 102 mi west-northwest | 9,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KGRB Green Bay, WI | 118 mi north-northeast | 12,300 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 Madison
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 110 tornadoes within 25 miles of Madison, 32 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F5 on June 7, 1984, which passed about 13 miles northwest of town and caused 9 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on July 16, 2025, which passed about 18 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 407 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 52 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on April 13, 2006.
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 Madison'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.
Madison radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Madison, WI?
KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI), about 45 miles east. KARX (La Crosse, WI) is 102 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Madison?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Madison the lowest scan from KMKX is about 3,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Madison 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 Madison, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Shorewood Hills, WI radar 1 mi
- Maple Bluff, WI radar 4 mi
- Middleton, WI radar 4 mi
- Monona, WI radar 5 mi
- Waunakee, WI radar 7 mi
- Fitchburg, WI radar 7 mi
- Verona, WI radar 9 mi
- McFarland, WI radar 9 mi
- DeForest, WI radar 11 mi
- Cross Plains, WI radar 11 mi