Dakota, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Dakota, Stephenson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Dakota?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 106 days in the Stephenson forecast zone and Stephenson County — the most common reported hazard around Dakota, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (82 days) and flash flooding (25 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 106 | Jun 2026 | Jul 5, 2003 · $2.5 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 82 | Nov 2025 | Jan 5, 2005 · $10,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 25 | Jun 2026 | Jul 27, 2011 · 2 deaths · $500,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 17 | Jan 2019 | — |
| Flooding | 15 | Mar 2019 | Jul 22, 2017 · $7.5 million damage |
| High winds | 13 | Feb 2016 | May 9, 2003 · $2.0 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 9 | Feb 2023 | — |
| Blizzards | 5 | Mar 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 Stephenson forecast zone and Stephenson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Dakota get?
A normal year brings about 35 inches of snow to Dakota, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Freeport Waste Wtp weather station 7.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (9.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 2.6 | 8.9 | 9.7 | 8.5 | 3.8 | 0.8 | 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 Dakota?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI), about 64 miles 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 Dakota | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 64 mi northeast | 5,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 76 mi southwest | 6,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 92 mi southeast | 8,400 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 Dakota
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 80 tornadoes within 25 miles of Dakota, 10 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F3 on April 16, 1967, which passed about 19 miles northwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on July 15, 2024, which passed about 19 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 257 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 28 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on August 16, 2025.
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 Dakota'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.
Dakota radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Dakota, IL?
KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI), about 64 miles northeast. KDVN (Quad Cities, IA) is 76 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Dakota?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Dakota the lowest scan from KMKX is about 5,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Dakota 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 Dakota, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Freeport, IL radar 9 mi
- Pecatonica, IL radar 10 mi
- Durand, IL radar 11 mi
- Lena, IL radar 15 mi
- Winnebago, IL radar 17 mi
- Forreston, IL radar 18 mi
- Byron, IL radar 23 mi
- Mount Morris, IL radar 24 mi
- Rockton, IL radar 24 mi
- Stockton, IL radar 24 mi