Elwin, IL Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Elwin, Macon County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for Elwin What TALON shows

What weather hits Elwin?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 124 days in the Macon forecast zone and Macon County — the most common reported hazard around Elwin, mostly in June and May. Next come flash flooding (41 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (37 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds	124	Jun 2026	Aug 12, 1999 · $2.2 million damage
Flash flooding	41	Mar 2026	Aug 26, 2014 · $20 million damage
Heavy snow & winter storms	37	Jan 2026	Dec 1, 2006 · $1.5 million damage
High winds	18	Sep 2024	Mar 25, 1996 · 1 death
Excessive heat	14	Aug 2024	—
Extreme cold & wind chill	8	Jan 2026	—
Lightning casualties & damage	4	May 2019	Feb 26, 2009 · $50,000 damage
Ice storms & sleet	3	Jan 2024	—

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 Macon forecast zone and Macon County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

How much snow does Elwin get?

A normal year brings about 14 inches of snow to Elwin, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Decatur Wtp weather station 3.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (5.9 in).

Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May
0.0	0.4	3.5	5.9	2.5	0.9	0.4	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 Elwin?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KILX (Lincoln, IL), about 32 miles northwest. 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 Elwin	View
KILX Lincoln, IL	32 mi northwest	2,000 ft	Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KLSX St. Louis, MO	118 mi southwest	12,400 ft	Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KVWX Evansville, IN	125 mi south-southeast	13,500 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 Elwin

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 176 tornadoes within 25 miles of Elwin, 27 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on March 20, 1976, which passed about 10 miles east of town. The most recent was an EF2 on December 28, 2025, which crossed near town.

Hail: 235 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 16 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on August 26, 2000.

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 Elwin'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.

Elwin radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Elwin, IL?

KILX (Lincoln, IL), about 32 miles northwest. KLSX (St. Louis, MO) is 118 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Elwin?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Elwin the lowest scan from KILX is about 2,000 ft up.

Is TALON's radar for Elwin 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 Elwin, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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