Colchester, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Colchester, McDonough County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Colchester?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 101 days in the McDonough forecast zone and McDonough County — the most common reported hazard around Colchester, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (64 days) and flash flooding (36 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 101 | Jun 2026 | Jun 25, 2003 · $1.9 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 64 | Nov 2025 | Nov 24, 2004 · $5,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 36 | Jun 2026 | Apr 17, 2013 · $250,000 damage |
| Flooding | 29 | Jun 2022 | Jun 22, 2010 · $250,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 12 | Jan 2019 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 11 | Dec 2024 | Jan 5, 2005 · $10,000 damage |
| High winds | 6 | May 2008 | Apr 6, 1997 · $100,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 5 | Aug 2013 | — |
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 McDonough forecast zone and McDonough County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Colchester get?
A normal year brings about 11 inches of snow to Colchester, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Macomb weather station 7.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (3.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 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 Colchester?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KILX (Lincoln, IL), about 79 miles east-southeast. 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 Colchester | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 79 mi east-southeast | 6,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 83 mi north | 7,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLSX St. Louis, MO | 119 mi south | 12,600 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 Colchester
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 94 tornadoes within 25 miles of Colchester, 16 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on May 13, 1995, which passed about 17 miles north-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on April 20, 2025, which passed about 22 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 271 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 28 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 12, 1998.
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 Colchester'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.
Colchester radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Colchester, IL?
KILX (Lincoln, IL), about 79 miles east-southeast. KDVN (Quad Cities, IA) is 83 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Colchester?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Colchester the lowest scan from KILX is about 6,800 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Colchester 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 Colchester, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Macomb, IL radar 7 mi
- La Harpe, IL radar 14 mi
- Bushnell, IL radar 17 mi
- Carthage, IL radar 18 mi
- Rushville, IL radar 24 mi
- Hamilton, IL radar 30 mi
- Mount Sterling, IL radar 30 mi
- Camp Point, IL radar 30 mi
- Cuba, IL radar 32 mi
- Abingdon, IL radar 33 mi