Prairie du Chien, WI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Prairie du Chien, Crawford County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Prairie du Chien?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 65 days in the Crawford forecast zone and Crawford County — the most common reported hazard around Prairie du Chien, mostly in January and February. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (60 days) and flooding (54 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 65 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 60 | Sep 2024 | Jun 27, 1998 · $220,000 damage |
| Flooding | 54 | Jul 2024 | May 30, 2017 · 1 death · $50,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 31 | Jun 2024 | Aug 18, 2007 · $20 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 18 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 16 | Jun 2026 | Jul 17, 2011 · 1 death · $12,000 damage |
| High winds | 7 | Dec 2021 | Nov 10, 1998 · $125,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Mar 2009 | — |
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 Crawford forecast zone and Crawford County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Prairie du Chien get?
A normal year brings about 34 inches of snow to Prairie du Chien, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Prairie Du Chien weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually January (9.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 1.5 | 8.8 | 9.0 | 8.6 | 4.3 | 1.4 | 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 Prairie du Chien?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 54 miles north. 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 Prairie du Chien | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 54 mi north | 4,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 103 mi south-southeast | 10,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 131 mi east | 14,600 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 Prairie du Chien
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 59 tornadoes within 25 miles of Prairie du Chien, 15 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on April 30, 1954, which passed about 5 miles west-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on September 22, 2025, which touched down about 22 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 173 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 14 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on June 12, 1976.
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 Prairie du Chien'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.
Prairie du Chien radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Prairie du Chien, WI?
KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 54 miles north. KDVN (Quad Cities, IA) is 103 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Prairie du Chien?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Prairie du Chien the lowest scan from KARX is about 4,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Prairie du Chien 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 Prairie du Chien, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Boscobel, WI radar 23 mi
- Fennimore, WI radar 25 mi
- Lancaster, WI radar 26 mi
- Muscoda, WI radar 37 mi
- Viroqua, WI radar 38 mi
- Dickeyville, WI radar 40 mi
- Platteville, WI radar 40 mi
- Richland Center, WI radar 43 mi
- Westby, WI radar 44 mi
- Belmont, WI radar 46 mi