Altona, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Altona, Knox County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Altona?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 128 days in the Knox forecast zone and Knox County — the most common reported hazard around Altona, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (45 days) and flash flooding (33 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 128 | Jun 2026 | Aug 23, 2007 · 1 death · $1.4 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 45 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 33 | Jun 2026 | Apr 18, 2013 · $40 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 14 | Aug 2024 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 11 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 11 | Nov 2019 | Nov 10, 1998 · $60,000 damage |
| Flooding | 11 | May 2013 | May 16, 2009 · $1.5 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 9 | Jan 2021 | Dec 28, 2015 · $375,000 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 Knox forecast zone and Knox County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Altona get?
A normal year brings about 27 inches of snow to Altona, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Woodhull weather station 9.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (7.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.7 | 7.1 | 7.9 | 6.7 | 4.1 | 0.3 | 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 Altona?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 41 miles north-northwest. 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 Altona | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 41 mi north-northwest | 2,700 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 80 mi south-southeast | 6,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 113 mi east-northeast | 11,600 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 Altona
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 131 tornadoes within 25 miles of Altona, 24 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F3 on May 14, 1961, which passed about 17 miles southeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on June 3, 2025, which passed about 22 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 209 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 10 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 9, 1995.
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 Altona'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.
Altona radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Altona, IL?
KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 41 miles north-northwest. KILX (Lincoln, IL) is 80 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Altona?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Altona the lowest scan from KDVN is about 2,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Altona 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 Altona, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Galva, IL radar 8 mi
- Cambridge, IL radar 12 mi
- Kewanee, IL radar 15 mi
- Knoxville, IL radar 16 mi
- Toulon, IL radar 16 mi
- Galesburg, IL radar 16 mi
- Orion, IL radar 20 mi
- Wyoming, IL radar 21 mi
- Geneseo, IL radar 23 mi
- Princeville, IL radar 25 mi