Watertown, WI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Watertown, Jefferson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Watertown?
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 Watertown, 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 Watertown get?
A normal year brings about 37 inches of snow to Watertown, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Watertown Wwtp weather station 1.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (11.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 1.4 | 8.5 | 11.0 | 9.7 | 4.4 | 1.6 | 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 Watertown?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI), about 18 miles south-southeast. 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 Watertown | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 18 mi south-southeast | 1,000 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KGRB Green Bay, WI | 96 mi north-northeast | 9,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 114 mi south-southeast | 11,800 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 Watertown
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 134 tornadoes within 25 miles of Watertown, 33 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F4 on April 27, 1984, which passed about 23 miles southeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on July 16, 2025, which touched down about 24 miles north of town.
Hail: 342 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 32 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 Watertown'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.
Watertown radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Watertown, WI?
KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI), about 18 miles south-southeast. KGRB (Green Bay, WI) is 96 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Watertown?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Watertown the lowest scan from KMKX is about 1,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Watertown 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 Watertown, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Johnson Creek, WI radar 8 mi
- Lake Mills, WI radar 12 mi
- Hustisford, WI radar 12 mi
- Waterloo, WI radar 13 mi
- Oconomowoc, WI radar 13 mi
- Jefferson, WI radar 13 mi
- Juneau, WI radar 15 mi
- Summit, WI radar 16 mi
- Marshall, WI radar 17 mi
- Nashotah, WI radar 18 mi