Forreston, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Forreston, Ogle County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Forreston?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 117 days in the Ogle forecast zone and Ogle County — the most common reported hazard around Forreston, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (40 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (27 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 117 | Jun 2026 | Aug 4, 2008 · $300,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 40 | Mar 2026 | Dec 11, 2010 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 27 | Jan 2026 | Jan 4, 2009 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 22 | Jul 2025 | Jul 24, 2010 · $268,000 damage |
| Flooding | 19 | Apr 2023 | — |
| High winds | 13 | Mar 2026 | Oct 26, 2010 · $50,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 9 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Feb 2023 | — |
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 Ogle forecast zone and Ogle County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Forreston get?
A normal year brings about 35 inches of snow to Forreston, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Freeport Waste Wtp weather station 11.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (9.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 2.6 | 8.9 | 9.7 | 8.5 | 3.8 | 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 Forreston?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 63 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 Forreston | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 63 mi southwest | 4,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 78 mi northeast | 6,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 85 mi east-southeast | 7,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
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 Forreston
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 82 tornadoes within 25 miles of Forreston, 12 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an EF4 on April 9, 2015, which passed about 24 miles southeast of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on July 15, 2024, which passed about 7 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 214 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 21 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on July 13, 2004.
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 Forreston'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.
Forreston radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Forreston, IL?
KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 63 miles southwest. KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI) is 78 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Forreston?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Forreston the lowest scan from KDVN is about 4,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Forreston 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 Forreston, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Mount Morris, IL radar 9 mi
- Polo, IL radar 10 mi
- Freeport, IL radar 12 mi
- Lanark, IL radar 13 mi
- Oregon, IL radar 15 mi
- Byron, IL radar 16 mi
- Pecatonica, IL radar 17 mi
- Winnebago, IL radar 20 mi
- Dixon, IL radar 20 mi
- Stillman Valley, IL radar 21 mi