Big Foot Prairie, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Big Foot Prairie, McHenry County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Big Foot Prairie?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 148 days in the McHenry forecast zone and McHenry County — the most common reported hazard around Big Foot Prairie, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (53 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (25 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 148 | Jun 2026 | Jul 17, 2006 · $200,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 53 | Mar 2026 | Feb 23, 2012 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 25 | Jan 2026 | Jan 11, 2016 · 1 death |
| High winds | 24 | Jun 2026 | Apr 7, 2001 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 24 | Jun 2026 | Jul 12, 2017 · $3.9 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 16 | Jun 2026 | Aug 7, 2007 · $500,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 16 | Jun 2024 | Aug 5, 1996 · $200,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 9 | Jun 2026 | — |
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 McHenry forecast zone and McHenry County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Big Foot Prairie get?
A normal year brings about 32 inches of snow to Big Foot Prairie, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Harvard weather station 5.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (10.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 2.1 | 6.3 | 10.0 | 8.4 | 4.4 | 0.7 | 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 Big Foot Prairie?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI), about 33 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 Big Foot Prairie | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 33 mi north | 2,100 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 67 mi south-southeast | 5,300 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 118 mi west-southwest | 12,500 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 Big Foot Prairie
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 112 tornadoes within 25 miles of Big Foot Prairie, 19 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and April. The strongest was an F4 on April 21, 1967, which passed about 12 miles south-southeast of town and caused 24 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on June 3, 2025, which touched down about 22 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 321 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 18 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.90-inch hail on May 2, 2018.
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 Big Foot Prairie'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.
Big Foot Prairie radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Big Foot Prairie, IL?
KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI), about 33 miles north. KLOT (Chicago, IL) is 67 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Big Foot Prairie?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Big Foot Prairie the lowest scan from KMKX is about 2,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Big Foot Prairie 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 Big Foot Prairie, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Harvard, IL radar 4 mi
- Hebron, IL radar 9 mi
- Capron, IL radar 10 mi
- Wonder Lake, IL radar 15 mi
- Richmond, IL radar 15 mi
- Woodstock, IL radar 15 mi
- Poplar Grove, IL radar 16 mi
- Bull Valley, IL radar 17 mi
- Marengo, IL radar 17 mi
- Spring Grove, IL radar 19 mi