German Valley, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for German Valley, Stephenson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits German Valley?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 106 days in the Stephenson forecast zone and Stephenson County — the most common reported hazard around German Valley, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (82 days) and flash flooding (25 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 106 | Jun 2026 | Jul 5, 2003 · $2.5 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 82 | Nov 2025 | Jan 5, 2005 · $10,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 25 | Jun 2026 | Jul 27, 2011 · 2 deaths · $500,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 17 | Jan 2019 | — |
| Flooding | 15 | Mar 2019 | Jul 22, 2017 · $7.5 million damage |
| High winds | 13 | Feb 2016 | May 9, 2003 · $2.0 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 9 | Feb 2023 | — |
| Blizzards | 5 | Mar 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 Stephenson forecast zone and Stephenson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does German Valley get?
A normal year brings about 35 inches of snow to German Valley, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Freeport Waste Wtp weather station 8.4 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 German Valley?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 70 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 German Valley | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 70 mi southwest | 5,700 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 70 mi northeast | 5,700 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 83 mi east-southeast | 7,300 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 German Valley
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 78 tornadoes within 25 miles of German Valley, 9 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an EF4 on April 9, 2015, which passed about 25 miles southeast of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on July 15, 2024, which passed about 12 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 243 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 24 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 German Valley'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.
German Valley radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to German Valley, IL?
KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 70 miles southwest. KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI) is 70 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in German Valley?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over German Valley the lowest scan from KDVN is about 5,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for German Valley 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 German Valley, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Forreston, IL radar 8 mi
- Pecatonica, IL radar 9 mi
- Freeport, IL radar 9 mi
- Mount Morris, IL radar 12 mi
- Byron, IL radar 13 mi
- Winnebago, IL radar 13 mi
- Oregon, IL radar 16 mi
- Polo, IL radar 17 mi
- Durand, IL radar 17 mi
- Stillman Valley, IL radar 17 mi