Darien, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Darien, DuPage County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Darien?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 151 days in the DuPage forecast zone and DuPage County — the most common reported hazard around Darien, mostly in June and July. Next come flooding (61 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (54 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 151 | Jun 2026 | Aug 2, 2015 · 2 deaths |
| Flooding | 61 | Jun 2026 | May 15, 2020 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 54 | Nov 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 51 | Aug 2025 | Sep 14, 2008 · $8.0 million damage |
| High winds | 34 | Jun 2026 | Oct 26, 2010 · $100,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 27 | Jan 2026 | Feb 3, 2021 · 1 death |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 19 | Jul 2023 | May 30, 2013 · 1 death |
| Excessive heat | 12 | 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 DuPage forecast zone and DuPage County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Darien get?
A normal year brings about 24 inches of snow to Darien, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Wheaton 3 Se weather station 6.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (9.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.9 | 4.2 | 9.3 | 5.1 | 4.5 | 0.3 | 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 Darien?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 11 miles south-southwest. 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 Darien | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 11 mi south-southwest | 600 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 89 mi north-northwest | 8,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KIWX Fort Wayne, IN | 121 mi east-southeast | 12,900 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 Darien
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 203 tornadoes within 25 miles of Darien, 41 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F5 on August 28, 1990, which passed about 16 miles southwest of town and caused 29 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on March 19, 2025, which touched down about 18 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 774 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 48 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 Darien'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.
Darien radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Darien, IL?
KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 11 miles south-southwest. KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI) is 89 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Darien?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Darien the lowest scan from KLOT is about 600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Darien 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 Darien, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.