Crystal Lake, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Crystal Lake, McHenry County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Crystal Lake?
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 Crystal Lake, 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 Crystal Lake get?
A normal year brings about 35 inches of snow to Crystal Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Crystal Lake 4Nw weather station 3.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (10.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 1.6 | 8.7 | 10.0 | 9.0 | 4.4 | 1.2 | 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 Crystal Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 45 miles south-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 Crystal Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 45 mi south-southeast | 3,100 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 52 mi north-northwest | 3,700 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 123 mi west-southwest | 13,300 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 Crystal Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 126 tornadoes within 25 miles of Crystal Lake, 22 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F4 on April 21, 1967, which passed about 9 miles north-northwest of town and caused 24 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on March 14, 2025, which touched down about 20 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 450 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 22 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 Crystal Lake'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.
Crystal Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Crystal Lake, IL?
KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 45 miles south-southeast. KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI) is 52 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Crystal Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Crystal Lake the lowest scan from KLOT is about 3,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Crystal Lake 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 Crystal Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.