Cortland, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Cortland, De Kalb County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Cortland?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 127 days in the De Kalb forecast zone and De Kalb County — the most common reported hazard around Cortland, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (43 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (26 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 127 | Jun 2026 | May 20, 2014 · $500,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 43 | Dec 2025 | Jan 26, 2014 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 26 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 21 | Aug 2025 | Sep 14, 2008 · $3.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 20 | Jun 2026 | Aug 23, 2007 · $1.0 million damage |
| High winds | 17 | Jun 2026 | Oct 26, 2010 · $50,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 9 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 6 | Feb 2015 | — |
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 De Kalb forecast zone and De Kalb County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Cortland get?
A normal year brings about 33 inches of snow to Cortland, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the De Kalb weather station 4.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (10.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 1.8 | 6.6 | 10.2 | 8.7 | 4.4 | 1.3 | 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 Cortland?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 39 miles 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 Cortland | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 39 mi southeast | 2,500 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 72 mi north | 5,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 100 mi west-southwest | 9,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
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 Cortland
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 120 tornadoes within 25 miles of Cortland, 12 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and June. The strongest was an F5 on August 28, 1990, which passed about 25 miles southeast of town and caused 29 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on July 15, 2024, which touched down about 23 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 323 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 33 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on April 4, 2023.
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 Cortland'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.
Cortland radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Cortland, IL?
KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 39 miles southeast. KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI) is 72 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Cortland?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Cortland the lowest scan from KLOT is about 2,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Cortland 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 Cortland, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- DeKalb, IL radar 3 mi
- Sycamore, IL radar 4 mi
- Maple Park, IL radar 5 mi
- Malta, IL radar 9 mi
- Genoa, IL radar 11 mi
- Lily Lake, IL radar 11 mi
- Hinckley, IL radar 12 mi
- Kingston, IL radar 12 mi
- Elburn, IL radar 12 mi
- Waterman, IL radar 12 mi