Garden Prairie, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Garden Prairie, Boone County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Garden Prairie?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 83 days in the Boone forecast zone and Boone County — the most common reported hazard around Garden Prairie, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (42 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (22 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 83 | Jun 2026 | Aug 25, 2006 · $400,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 42 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 22 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 20 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 14 | Jul 2024 | Jun 28, 2017 · $100,000 damage |
| High winds | 11 | Feb 2019 | Oct 26, 2010 · $50,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 8 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 5 | Feb 2015 | — |
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 Boone forecast zone and Boone County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Garden Prairie get?
A normal year brings about 31 inches of snow to Garden Prairie, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Marengo weather station 5.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (9.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 1.6 | 9.3 | 8.0 | 9.1 | 2.4 | 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 Garden Prairie?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI), about 50 miles north. 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 Garden Prairie | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 50 mi north | 3,600 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 55 mi southeast | 4,100 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 106 mi west-southwest | 10,500 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 Garden Prairie
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 122 tornadoes within 25 miles of Garden Prairie, 15 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and July. The strongest was an F4 on April 21, 1967, which crossed near town and caused 24 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on June 3, 2025, which touched down about 10 miles west of town.
Hail: 353 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 19 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on May 2, 2018.
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 Garden Prairie'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.
Garden Prairie radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Garden Prairie, IL?
KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI), about 50 miles north. KLOT (Chicago, IL) is 55 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Garden Prairie?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Garden Prairie the lowest scan from KMKX is about 3,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Garden Prairie 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 Garden Prairie, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Marengo, IL radar 6 mi
- Belvidere, IL radar 9 mi
- Poplar Grove, IL radar 9 mi
- Capron, IL radar 10 mi
- Kingston, IL radar 11 mi
- Genoa, IL radar 11 mi
- Harvard, IL radar 13 mi
- Kirkland, IL radar 13 mi
- Cherry Valley, IL radar 13 mi
- Hampshire, IL radar 14 mi