Sand Pillow, WI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Sand Pillow, Jackson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Sand Pillow?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 73 days in the Jackson forecast zone and Jackson County — the most common reported hazard around Sand Pillow, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (69 days) and flooding (44 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 73 | Jul 2025 | Aug 7, 1996 · 1 death · $80,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 69 | Mar 2026 | Nov 29, 2025 · 1 death · $25,000 damage |
| Flooding | 44 | Apr 2026 | Sep 23, 2010 · $3.1 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 20 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 12 | Jun 2026 | Jul 17, 2011 · $6,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 12 | Jul 2025 | Jul 20, 2017 · $2.0 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 6 | May 2016 | Jun 15, 2014 · 1 death · $82,000 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 Jackson forecast zone and Jackson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Sand Pillow get?
A normal year brings about 41 inches of snow to Sand Pillow, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Black Rvr Falls Sewage weather station 5.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (10.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 1.4 | 10.6 | 9.8 | 10.9 | 5.5 | 2.9 | 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 Sand Pillow?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 41 miles south-southwest. 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 Sand Pillow | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 41 mi south-southwest | 2,700 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KGRB Green Bay, WI | 131 mi east | 14,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 142 mi west-northwest | 16,700 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 Sand Pillow
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 38 tornadoes within 25 miles of Sand Pillow, 15 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F3 on May 5, 1965, which passed about 20 miles south-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on May 15, 2025, which touched down about 22 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 142 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 11 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on September 9, 1990.
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 Sand Pillow'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.
Sand Pillow radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Sand Pillow, WI?
KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 41 miles south-southwest. KGRB (Green Bay, WI) is 131 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Sand Pillow?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Sand Pillow the lowest scan from KARX is about 2,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Sand Pillow 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 Sand Pillow, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Black River Falls, WI radar 5 mi
- Neillsville, WI radar 18 mi
- Blair, WI radar 26 mi
- Tomah, WI radar 27 mi
- Sparta, WI radar 27 mi
- Osseo, WI radar 28 mi
- Whitehall, WI radar 28 mi
- Augusta, WI radar 30 mi
- Loyal, WI radar 31 mi
- Greenwood, WI radar 31 mi