West Salem, WI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for West Salem, La Crosse County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits West Salem?
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 West Salem, 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 West Salem get?
A normal year brings about 54 inches of snow to West Salem, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the La Crosse Wfo weather station 7.4 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 West Salem?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 7 miles 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 West Salem | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 7 mi southwest | 400 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 139 mi west-northwest | 16,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 143 mi east-southeast | 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 West Salem
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 62 tornadoes within 25 miles of West Salem, 12 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F3 on May 5, 1965, which passed about 5 miles northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on June 26, 2025, which touched down about 20 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 303 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 48 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 West Salem'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.
West Salem radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to West Salem, WI?
KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 7 miles southwest. KMPX (Minneapolis, MN) is 139 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in West Salem?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over West Salem the lowest scan from KARX is about 400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for West Salem 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 West Salem, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Bangor, WI radar 5 mi
- Onalaska, WI radar 6 mi
- La Crosse, WI radar 9 mi
- Holmen, WI radar 10 mi
- Sparta, WI radar 14 mi
- Trempealeau, WI radar 18 mi
- Cashton, WI radar 19 mi
- Galesville, WI radar 19 mi
- Westby, WI radar 20 mi
- Viroqua, WI radar 25 mi