Chicago Heights, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Chicago Heights, Cook County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Chicago Heights?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 260 days in the Southern Cook forecast zone and Cook County — the most common reported hazard around Chicago Heights, mostly in July and June. Next come flooding (121 days) and flash flooding (112 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 260 | Jun 2026 | Aug 23, 2007 · 1 death · $100,000 damage |
| Flooding | 121 | Jun 2026 | Sep 13, 2008 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 112 | Jun 2026 | Sep 13, 2008 · 1 death · $35 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 48 | Aug 2025 | Jul 22, 2001 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 8 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 8 | Jan 2026 | Jan 12, 2024 · 1 death |
| Excessive heat | 7 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Dust storms | 1 | May 2025 | — |
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 Southern Cook forecast zone and Cook County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Chicago Heights get?
A normal year brings about 28 inches of snow to Chicago Heights, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Park Forest weather station 2.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (10.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 0.9 | 4.0 | 10.2 | 7.5 | 4.9 | 0.5 | 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 Chicago Heights?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 24 miles west-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 Chicago Heights | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 24 mi west-northwest | 1,400 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KIWX Fort Wayne, IN | 101 mi east | 9,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 111 mi north-northwest | 11,300 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 Chicago Heights
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 173 tornadoes within 25 miles of Chicago Heights, 37 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F5 on August 28, 1990, which passed about 24 miles west of town and caused 29 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on March 19, 2025, which touched down about 22 miles west of town.
Hail: 406 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 26 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 6.00-inch hail on April 23, 1961.
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 Chicago Heights'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.
Chicago Heights radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Chicago Heights, IL?
KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 24 miles west-northwest. KIWX (Fort Wayne, IN) is 101 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Chicago Heights?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Chicago Heights the lowest scan from KLOT is about 1,400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Chicago Heights 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 Chicago Heights, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.