Elgin, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Elgin, Kane County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Elgin?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 172 days in the Kane forecast zone and Kane County — the most common reported hazard around Elgin, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (57 days) and flooding (33 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 172 | Jun 2026 | Aug 4, 2008 · $500,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 57 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 33 | Jun 2026 | Aug 23, 2007 · $5.0 million damage |
| High winds | 31 | Jun 2026 | Oct 26, 2010 · $50,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 27 | Jan 2026 | Feb 3, 2007 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 26 | Aug 2025 | Jul 17, 1996 · $15 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 15 | Jul 2023 | Jun 2, 2006 · 1 death |
| Excessive heat | 11 | Jun 2026 | Jul 21, 1999 · 1 death |
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 Kane forecast zone and Kane County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Elgin get?
A normal year brings about 32 inches of snow to Elgin, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Elgin weather station 2.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (9.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 1.4 | 8.7 | 9.5 | 8.0 | 3.7 | 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 Elgin?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 33 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 Elgin | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 33 mi south-southeast | 2,000 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 65 mi north | 5,100 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 120 mi west-southwest | 12,700 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 Elgin
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 153 tornadoes within 25 miles of Elgin, 30 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and August. The strongest was an F5 on August 28, 1990, which passed about 25 miles south of town and caused 29 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on March 14, 2025, which touched down about 10 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 597 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 40 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 Elgin'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.
Elgin radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Elgin, IL?
KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 33 miles south-southeast. KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI) is 65 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Elgin?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Elgin the lowest scan from KLOT is about 2,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Elgin 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 Elgin, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.