Forest Park, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Forest Park, Cook County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Forest Park?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 260 days in the Central Cook forecast zone and Cook County — the most common reported hazard around Forest Park, mostly in July and June. Next come flooding (123 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 | 123 | 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 |
| High winds | 18 | Mar 2026 | Mar 15, 2025 · $5,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 9 | Jan 2026 | Feb 15, 2021 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 8 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 7 | 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 Central Cook forecast zone and Cook County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Forest Park get?
A normal year brings about 42 inches of snow to Forest Park, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Oak Brook 2W weather station 8.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (14.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.6 | 9.7 | 12.6 | 14.5 | 4.1 | 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 Forest Park?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 23 miles 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 Forest Park | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 23 mi southwest | 1,300 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 85 mi north-northwest | 7,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KIWX Fort Wayne, IN | 115 mi east-southeast | 11,900 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 Forest Park
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 140 tornadoes within 25 miles of Forest Park, 26 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F4 on April 21, 1967, which passed about 13 miles south-southeast of town and caused 33 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on March 14, 2025, which touched down about 19 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 653 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 33 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 Forest Park'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.
Forest Park radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Forest Park, IL?
KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 23 miles southwest. KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI) is 85 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Forest Park?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Forest Park the lowest scan from KLOT is about 1,300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Forest Park 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 Forest Park, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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