Des Plaines, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Des Plaines, Cook County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Des Plaines?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 260 days in the Northern Cook forecast zone and Cook County — the most common reported hazard around Des Plaines, mostly in July and June. Next come flooding (121 days) and flash flooding (112 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 260 | Jun 2026 | Aug 23, 2007 · 1 death · $100,000 damage |
| Flooding | 121 | Jun 2026 | Sep 13, 2008 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 112 | Jun 2026 | Sep 13, 2008 · 1 death · $35 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 48 | Aug 2025 | Jul 22, 2001 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 11 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 8 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 7 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 6 | 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 Northern Cook forecast zone and Cook County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Des Plaines get?
A normal year brings about 38 inches of snow to Des Plaines, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Chicago Ohare Intl Ap weather station 3.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (11.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 1.8 | 7.6 | 11.3 | 10.7 | 5.5 | 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 Des Plaines?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 31 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 Des Plaines | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 31 mi south-southwest | 1,900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 72 mi north-northwest | 6,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KIWX Fort Wayne, IN | 123 mi east-southeast | 13,200 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 Des Plaines
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 125 tornadoes within 25 miles of Des Plaines, 28 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F4 on April 11, 1965, which passed about 22 miles northwest of town and caused 6 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on March 14, 2025, which touched down about 13 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 638 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 30 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on April 7, 2020.
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 Des Plaines'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.
Des Plaines radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Des Plaines, IL?
KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 31 miles south-southwest. KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI) is 72 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Des Plaines?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Des Plaines the lowest scan from KLOT is about 1,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Des Plaines 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 Des Plaines, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.