Gardner, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Gardner, Grundy County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Gardner?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 91 days in the Grundy forecast zone and Grundy County — the most common reported hazard around Gardner, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (30 days) and flooding (23 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 91 | Jun 2026 | Jul 7, 2003 · $2.5 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 30 | Nov 2025 | Dec 18, 2008 · $100,000 damage |
| Flooding | 23 | Jan 2024 | Sep 15, 2008 · $3.0 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 21 | Jan 2026 | Jan 14, 2024 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 16 | Apr 2026 | Jul 17, 1996 · $17 million damage |
| High winds | 15 | Mar 2026 | Oct 26, 2010 · $50,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 12 | Jun 2026 | Jun 22, 2009 · 1 death |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 8 | May 2013 | Jul 24, 2009 · $100,000 damage |
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 Grundy forecast zone and Grundy County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Gardner get?
A normal year brings about 23 inches of snow to Gardner, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Dwight weather station 8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (7.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.8 | 5.6 | 7.9 | 4.9 | 3.5 | 0.6 | 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 Gardner?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 31 miles north-northeast. 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 Gardner | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 31 mi north-northeast | 1,900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 90 mi southwest | 8,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 121 mi west-northwest | 12,900 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 Gardner
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 118 tornadoes within 25 miles of Gardner, 29 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and April. The strongest was an F4 on April 17, 1963, which passed about 11 miles east of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on December 28, 2025, which touched down about 23 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 182 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 16 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.75-inch hail on June 10, 2015.
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 Gardner'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.
Gardner radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Gardner, IL?
KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 31 miles north-northeast. KILX (Lincoln, IL) is 90 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Gardner?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Gardner the lowest scan from KLOT is about 1,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Gardner 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 Gardner, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Coal City, IL radar 6 mi
- Braidwood, IL radar 7 mi
- Diamond, IL radar 7 mi
- Dwight, IL radar 9 mi
- Wilmington, IL radar 12 mi
- Morris, IL radar 14 mi
- Herscher, IL radar 15 mi
- Channahon, IL radar 16 mi
- Seneca, IL radar 17 mi
- Minooka, IL radar 18 mi