Coal City, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Coal City, Grundy County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Coal City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 91 days in the Grundy forecast zone and Grundy County — the most common reported hazard around Coal City, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (30 days) and flooding (23 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 91 | Jun 2026 | Jul 7, 2003 · $2.5 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 30 | Nov 2025 | Dec 18, 2008 · $100,000 damage |
| Flooding | 23 | Jan 2024 | Sep 15, 2008 · $3.0 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 21 | Jan 2026 | Jan 14, 2024 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 16 | Apr 2026 | Jul 17, 1996 · $17 million damage |
| High winds | 15 | Mar 2026 | Oct 26, 2010 · $50,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 12 | Jun 2026 | Jun 22, 2009 · 1 death |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 8 | May 2013 | Jul 24, 2009 · $100,000 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 Grundy forecast zone and Grundy County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Coal City get?
A normal year brings about 18 inches of snow to Coal City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Channahon Dresden Isl Dam weather station 8.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (6.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.3 | 6.1 | 6.4 | 5.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 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 Coal City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 25 miles north-northeast. 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 Coal City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 25 mi north-northeast | 1,400 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 96 mi southwest | 9,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 118 mi north | 12,300 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 Coal City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 138 tornadoes within 25 miles of Coal City, 31 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and April. The strongest was an F5 on August 28, 1990, which passed about 19 miles north-northeast of town and caused 29 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on March 19, 2025, which touched down about 18 miles northeast of town.
Hail: 247 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 16 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.75-inch hail on June 10, 2015.
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 Coal City'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.
Coal City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Coal City, IL?
KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 25 miles north-northeast. KILX (Lincoln, IL) is 96 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Coal City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Coal City the lowest scan from KLOT is about 1,400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Coal City 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 Coal City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Diamond, IL radar 2 mi
- Braidwood, IL radar 3 mi
- Gardner, IL radar 6 mi
- Wilmington, IL radar 7 mi
- Channahon, IL radar 10 mi
- Morris, IL radar 10 mi
- Minooka, IL radar 12 mi
- Elwood, IL radar 13 mi
- Dwight, IL radar 14 mi
- Shorewood, IL radar 17 mi